[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 208 (Monday, October 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64204-64205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25352]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory Personnel 
Management Demonstration Project, Department of Navy, Office of Naval 
Research (ONR); Amendment and Corrections

AGENCY: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Civilian Personnel 
Policy, (DASD (CPP)), Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Notice of Amendment and Administrative Corrections to the ONR 
Personnel Management Demonstration Project (75 FR 77380-77447, December 
10, 2010).

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SUMMARY: On December 10, 2010 (75 FR 77380-77447), DoD published a 
notice of approval of a personnel management demonstration project for 
eligible ONR employees. Within that notice, there were several 
typographical errors discovered. Additionally, after the publication of 
the notice and implementation of the demonstration project, ONR 
determined that for effective personnel management practices, 
amendments need to be made to provide better consistency in the use of 
the extended probationary periods for newly hired employees, and to 
more thoroughly cite the waivers to regulations required to apply these 
extended probationary periods. Amendments must also be made to better 
define minimally successful performance for assignments involving 
displacement, and to remove the requirement that advancements in 
certain Pay Bands need Executive Director's approval. This notice 
provides the final amendment to the demonstration project plans.

DATES: This amendment may be implemented beginning on the date of 
publication of this Federal Register notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
Office of Naval Research: Ms. Margaret J. Mitchell, Director, Human 
Resources Office, Office of Naval Research, 875 North Randolph Street, 
Code 01HR, Arlington, VA 22203; email: [email protected].
Department of Defense: Mr. Todd Cole, Defense Civilian Personnel 
Advisory Services, Non-Traditional Personnel Programs (DCPAS-NTPP), 
Suite 05F16, 4800 Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22350-1100; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 10, 2013, a notice of proposed 
amendments and administrative corrections (78 FR 34655-34656) was 
published for a 30-day comment period. No comments were received on or 
before July 10, 2013. This notice makes the amendments and 
administrative corrections to the demonstration project.

Modifications

    1. On page 77390, section III.F. Extended Probationary Period, 
replace the section with: All current laws and regulations for the 
current probationary period are retained with the exception of new 
employees hired under the demonstration. Candidates hired into the 
Administrative Support (NC) career track will serve a one year 
probationary period; candidates hired into the Administrative 
Specialist and Professional (NO) career track will serve a two year 
probationary period; and candidates hired into the Science and 
Engineering Professional (NP) career track will serve a three year 
probationary period. Employees with

[[Page 64205]]

veterans' preference will maintain their rights under current law and 
regulation.
    Reason for amendment: This change allows consistent application of 
the extended probationary period, and better aligns the probationary 
period with the time needed to demonstrate satisfactory performance 
within each individual career track.
    2. On page 77402, figure number in footer on bottom of 
``Eligibility Chart for Pay Increases'': Replace ``Figure 10. 
Eligibility Chart for Pay Increases'' with ``Figure 9. Eligibility 
Chart for Pay Increases''.
    Reason for change: To correct typographical errors in the figure 
number.
    3. On page 77403, Section IV.C.8.b. Advancements in Pay Band Which 
Must be Approved by the Executive Director, replace the section with: 
Advancement to (1) Pay Bands outside target pay bands or established 
position management criteria, and (2) Pay Band V of the S&E 
Professional Career Track require approval by the Executive Director 
without further delegation. Details regarding the process for 
nomination and consideration, format, selection criteria, and other 
aspects of this process will be addressed in the standard operating 
procedures and/or related instruction.
    Reason for amendment: Removing the requirement of Executive 
Director approval for advancements in Pay Bands IV and V of the 
Administrative Specialist and Professional Career Track, and Pay Band 
IV of the S&E Career Track provides department heads and senior 
leadership a path to advance employees appropriately through the pay 
pool panel process. Since the determination of suitability for 
advancement rests with the department heads and other senior leadership 
(including the pay pool managers), this change simply places the 
authority to approve such decisions with those determining their 
appropriateness, while retaining the Pay Pool Review Authority's full 
authority and responsibility through the Pay Pool Panel review process.
    4. On page 77416, right hand column, third block Part 351, subpart 
G, section 351.701--Assignment Involving Displacement, replace 
paragraph (a) with: Waive to allow minimally successful or equivalent 
to be defined as an employee who does not have a current written notice 
of unacceptable performance.
    Reason for amendment: This change is to prevent any possible 
categorization of an employee as ``unacceptable'' in terms of RIF, when 
that employee is overcompensated as a result of coming off of 
maintained pay and does not receive any increase during the CCS payout, 
but whose performance was acceptable.
    5. On page 77416, right hand column, third block, last line: 
Replace ``(e)(I)'' with ``(e)(1)''.
    Reason for change: To correct typographical errors.
    6. On page 77418, left hand column, second block: Replace ``Chapter 
52, subpart I, section 5301--Pay Policy. Waive in entirety.'' with 
``Chapter 53, subchapter I, section 5301--Pay Policy. Waive in 
entirety.''
    Reason for change: To correct typographical errors.
    7. On page 77418, left hand column, second block: Replace ``Chapter 
53, subpart I, section 5303--Special Pay Authority. Waive in 
entirety.'' with ``Chapter 53, subchapter I, section 5305--Special Pay 
Authority. Waive in entirety.''
    Reason for change: To correct typographical errors.
    8. On page 77419, left hand column, third block: Replace ``Chapter 
55, section 5455(d)--Hazardous Duty Differential'' with ``Chapter 55, 
section 5545(d)--Hazardous Duty Differential''
    Reason for change: To correct typographical errors.
    9. On page 77419, left hand column, last block (continues on top of 
page 77420) Appendix B: Required Waivers to Laws and Regulations chart 
replace all of the material in that block with: ``Chapter 75, sections 
7501(1), 7511(a)(1)(A)(ii), and 7511(a)(1)(C)(ii); Adverse Actions--
Definitions. Waived to the extent necessary to allow extended 
probationary periods and to permit termination during the extended 
probationary period without using adverse action procedures for those 
individuals serving a probationary period under an initial appointment 
except for those with veterans' preference.''
    Reason for amendment: This amendment allows ONR to fully utilize 
its flexibility of extended probationary periods by permitting 
terminations during these extended probationary periods.
    10. On page 77420, right hand column, first block Appendix B: 
Required Waivers to Laws and Regulations chart, add this paragraph to 
the block (currently blank): ``Part 752, sections, 752.201 and 752.401: 
Principal statutory requirements and coverage. Waived to the extent 
necessary to allow extended probationary periods and to permit 
termination during the extended probationary period without using 
adverse action procedures for those individuals serving a probationary 
period under an initial appointment except those with veterans' 
preference.''
    Reason for amendment: This amendment allows ONR to fully utilize 
its flexibility of extended probationary periods by permitting 
terminations during these extended probationary periods.
    11. On page 77420, right hand column, second block: Delete the 
three references to ``Part 572'' and replace with ``Part 752''.
    Reason for change: To correct typographical errors.
    12. On page 77420, right hand column, second block: Replace 
``subpart A'' with ``subpart D''.
    Reason for change: To correct typographical errors.
    13. On page 77420, right hand column, third block, first paragraph, 
delete ``subpart B'' and replace with ``subpart D''.
    Reason for change: To correct typographical errors.
    14. On page 77429, title (header data): Replace ``ELEMENT 2. 
PROGRAM EXECUTION AND LIASION'' with ``ELEMENT 2. PROGRAM EXECUTION AND 
LIAISON''.
    Reason for change: To correct typographical errors.

    Dated: October 23, 2013.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2013-25352 Filed 10-25-13; 8:45 am]
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