[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 170 (Thursday, August 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53142-53143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22319]



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Part III





Office of Personnel Management





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Science and Technology (S&T) Reinvention Laboratory Personnel 
Demonstration Project, Department of the Army, Aviation Research, 
Development, and Engineering Center (AVRDEC) and Missile Research, 
Development, and Engineering Center (MRDEC); Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 170 / Thursday, August 31, 2000 / 
Notices  

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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


Science and Technology (S&T) Reinvention Laboratory Personnel 
Demonstration Project, Department of the Army, Aviation Research, 
Development, and Engineering Center (AVRDEC) and Missile Research, 
Development, and Engineering Center (MRDEC)

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

ACTION: Notice of amendment of the AVRDEC and MRDEC demonstration 
project plans to merge the two separate demonstrations into one 
project. The resulting project is designated the S&T Reinvention 
Laboratory Personnel Demonstration Project at the U.S. Army Aviation & 
Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMCOM RDEC).

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SUMMARY: 5 U.S.C. 4703 authorizes OPM to conduct demonstration projects 
that experiment with new and different personnel management concepts to 
determine whether such changes in policy or procedures will result in 
improved Federal personnel management.
    Public Law 103-337, October 5, 1994, permits the Department of 
Defense (DOD), with the approval of OPM, to carry out personnel 
demonstration projects at S&T Reinvention Laboratories. Pursuant to 5 
CFR 470.315, this notice amends the AVRDEC and the MRDEC projects to 
merge the separate demonstrations into one project.
    Both demonstration projects were approved on June 27, 1997 and 
implemented on September 28, 1997. The formation of the Army Aviation 
and Missile Command (AMCOM), a directed BRAC 95 action, took place on 
October 11, 1997. This BRAC action placed both demonstration projects 
under the organizational control of AMCOM. The demonstration 
organizations (MRDEC and AVRDEC) were not merged at the formation of 
AMCOM to avoid excessive personnel turbulence and to ensure continued 
customer support during the BRAC transitions.
    However, Army planning included the eventual merger of the MRDEC 
and AVRDEC after several years of operation. For this reason, the 
Federal Register notice for both AVRDEC and MRDEC included the 
statement that ``Successor organizations which may result from actions 
associated with the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) 
or future Commissions will continue coverage in the demonstration 
project.'' Headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel Command Permanent Orders 
063-1, dated March 4, 1999, redesignated and reorganized the MRDEC as 
the AMCOM RDEC, discontinued the AVRDEC, and merged the AVRDEC with the 
AMCOM RDEC.

DATES: This amendment to the AVRDEC and MRDEC demonstration projects 
may be implemented beginning on the date of August 31, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:   
    AVRDEC: Mr. David Knepper, Aviation Research, Development, and 
Engineering Center, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, ATTN: 
AMSAM-RD, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama 35898-5000, phone 256-876-1522.
    MRDEC: Ms. Lana Hargrove, Missile Research, Development, and 
Engineering Center, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, ATTN: 
AMSAM-RD, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama 35898-5000, phone 256-955-6734.
    OPM: Mr. Gary Hacker, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 1900 E 
Street NW, Room 7458, Washington, DC 20415, phone 202-606-2820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

    OPM approved and published the final plans in the Federal Register 
for the following S&T Reinvention Laboratory Demonstration Projects:
    A. MRDEC final publication on Friday, June 27, 1997, Volume 62, 
Number 124, Part IV, page 34876.
    B. AVRDEC final publication on Friday, June 27, 1997, Volume 62, 
Number 124, Part V, page 34905.
    C. AVRDEC correction to the definition of competitive area and 
publication on Monday, March 8, 1999, Volume 64, Number 44, page 11074.
    D. Publication of an amendment to include competitive examining and 
Distinguished Scholastic Achievement Appointment authorities as part of 
the AVRDEC and the MRDEC plans. Published in the Federal Register on 
Thursday, March 11, 1999, Volume 64, Number 47, page 12216.
    The AVRDEC and the MRDEC demonstration projects involve simplified 
job classification, pay banding, a performance-based compensation 
system, employee development provisions, and modified reduction-in-
force procedures.

2. Overview

    This action is in response to a reorganization directed by the U.S. 
Army Materiel Command that re-designates the MRDEC as the U.S. Army 
Aviation & Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMCOM 
RDEC) effective October 1, 2000, and merges the AVRDEC with the newly 
established AMCOM RDEC.

    Dated: August 24, 2000.

Office of Personnel Management.
Janice R. Lachance,
Director.

I. Executive Summary

    The Department of the Army designed the personnel demonstration 
projects to be generally similar to the system in use at the Navy 
personnel demonstration known as China Lake. The projects and this 
amendment are built upon the concepts of linking performance to pay for 
all covered positions; simplifying the paperwork in the processing of 
classification and other personnel actions; emphasizing partnerships 
among management, employees, and the union; and delegating authorities 
to line managers.
    The projects are beneficial to both the AVRDEC and the MRDEC and 
will be continued. This conforms with the provision on successorship in 
the Federal Register, June 27, 1997, Volume 62, Number 124, at page 
34881, section IIE, and at page 34909, section IID, that states, 
``Successor organizations which may result from actions associated with 
the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) or future 
Commissions will continue coverage in the demonstration project.'' The 
consolidation re-designating the MRDEC and merging the AVRDEC with the 
new AMCOM RDEC results from 1995 BRAC actions.

II. Introduction

    The personnel demonstration at the merged AMCOM RDEC laboratory 
will provide its managers the authority, control, and flexibility to 
achieve a quality laboratory and quality products. The successor 
project will allow the AMCOM RDEC to compete more effectively for high-
quality personnel and strengthen the manager's role in personnel 
management.
    Basic provisions are unchanged from each of the approved 
demonstration projects. Except as described in section III that 
follows, provisions of the MRDEC plan will be followed for the 
consolidated AMCOM RDEC project.
    Employee notification will be made by delivery of a copy of this 
notice. Training for supervisors and employees will be accomplished 
along with implementation.

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III. Specific Provisions

A. Participating Organization

    The AMCOM RDEC will have approximately 1,953 employees covered by 
the project, approximately 1,502 from the MRDEC and approximately 451 
from the AVRDEC. The majority of the employees are located at Redstone 
Arsenal, Alabama, with the remaining employees located at Fort Rucker, 
Alabama; Mesa, Arizona; Moffett Field, California; Eglin Air Force 
Base, Florida; Orlando, Florida; Andover, Massachusetts; Dallas, Texas; 
Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Eustis, Virginia; Hampton, 
Virginia; and Washington, DC.

B. Occupational Series by Occupational Family

    The AVRDEC has the following occupational series that will be added 
to those in Appendix A of the MRDEC final plan pursuant to the merged 
project.
Engineers & Scientists
0180  Psychologist Series (Engineering Research Psychologist, 
Engineering Psychologist)
0801  General Engineer (Human Factors Engineer)
Technical and Business Support
0018  Safety & Occupational Health Management
0510  Accounting
0905  General Attorney
1035  Public Affairs
1060  Photography
1071  Audio Visual Production
1084  Visual Information
1103  Industrial Property Management Specialist
1601  General Facilities & Equipment
2181  Aircraft Operation
General Support
0525  Accounting Technician
1105  Purchasing
2102  Transportation Clerk and Assistant

C. Labor Participation

    Former AVRDEC and former MRDEC employees are currently represented 
as stated in the Federal Register, June 27, 1997, Volume 62, Number 
124, at page 34881, section IIF. (The term MRDEC is replaced with the 
term AMCOM RDEC.) Currently, no union represents AMCOM RDEC employees 
at the Fort Eustis and Langley, Virginia, geographic locations.

D. Performance-Based Actions

    Former AVRDEC and former MRDEC employees are currently covered by 
the provisions in the Federal Register, June 27, 1997, Volume 62, 
Number 124, at pages 34885 and 34886 for this topic.

E. Calculation of Performance Pay Pool Funds

    The AMCOM RDEC Management of Operations and Business Office, in 
consultation with the union(s) representing AMCOM employees covered by 
this demonstration project, will calculate the total performance pay 
pool funds and allocate them to pay pools or teams as appropriate. This 
allocation, approved by the Executive Director, will be achieved early 
in the annual performance appraisal cycle. These provisions replace the 
last paragraph of section IIIB (Performance Pay Pool) in the Federal 
Register, June 27, 1997, Volume 62, Number 124, at page 34887.

F. Competitive Areas

    All positions included in the demonstration project at a specific 
geographic location will be considered a separate competitive area 
(exception: positions at Fort Eustis and Hampton (NASA-Langley), 
Virginia will be combined into one competitive area).

[FR Doc. 00-22319 Filed 8-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-01-P