[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29280-29285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13487]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Department of Defense Science and Technology Reinvention 
Laboratory (STRL) Personnel Management Demonstration (Demo) Project 
Program

AGENCY: Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, 
DoD.

ACTION: This notice amends existing STRL Personnel Management 
Demonstration Project Programs.

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SUMMARY: STRLs may implement a new direct hire authority to appoint and 
noncompetitively convert to the competitive service qualified 
candidates enrolled in a program of undergraduate or graduate 
instruction leading to an undergraduate or advanced degree in a 
scientific, technical, engineering or mathematical course of study. 
STRLs may appoint students to a temporary, term, modified term (for 
those STRLs with modified term appointment authority), or flexible 
length student term appointment that will expire 120 days after 
completion of the designated academic course of study. Students may 
also be appointed to temporary, term or flexible length student term 
appointments at the discretion of the STRL Director. Students hired 
under the Scientific, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) 
Student Employment Program (SSEP) may receive a relocation incentive/
bonus each time the SSEP student returns to duty similar to the 
authority granted to the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in 75 FR 
53076, August 30, 2010.

DATES:  This notice may be implemented beginning on June 28, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Department of the Army

     ARL: Ms. Dianne Hawkins, Program Manager, ARL Personnel 
Demonstration Project, RDRL-LOH, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD 
20783-1197;
     AMRDEC: Mr. Chad Marshall, Demonstration Project Manager, 
AMRDEC, 5400 Fowler Road, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5000;
     CERDEC: Mr. Christopher Tahaney, CERDEC Personnel 
Demonstration Project Administrator, C4ISR Campus Building 6002, Room 
D3126D, ATTN: RDER-DOS-ER, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005;
     ECBC: Ms. Patricia Milwicz, Management and Program 
Analyst, ECBC, Directorate of Program Integration, Workforce Management 
Office, Department of the Army, ATTN: RDCB-DPC-W, 5183 Blackhawk Road, 
Building 3330, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5424;
     ERDC: Ms. Patricia Sullivan, Personnel Demonstration 
Project Manager, U.S. Army ERDC, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 
39180-6199;
     MRMC: Ms. Linda Krout, Personnel Demonstration Project 
Manager, 505 Scott St, Fort Detrick, MD 21702-5000;
     NSRDEC: Ms. Joelle Montecalvo, Demonstration Project 
Manager, NSRDEC, Kansas Street, (AMSRD-NSR-BO-W), Natick, MA 01760;
     TARDEC: Ms. Jennifer Davis, TARDEC, ATTN: RDTA-CS/MS 204, 
Warren, MI 48397-5000;
     ARDEC: Mr. Mike Nicotra, U.S. Army ARDEC, Human Capital 
Management Office, Building 1, 3rd Floor, RDAR-EIH, Picatinny Arsenal, 
NJ 07806-5000.

Department of the Air Force

     AFRL: Ms. Rosalyn Jones-Byrd, Personnel Demonstration 
Project Manager, AFRL, 1864 4th Street, Wright-Patterson Air Force 
Base, OH 45433-5209.

Department of the Navy

     ONR: Ms. Margaret J. Mitchell, Director, Civilian Human 
Resources, ONR, 875 North Randolph Street, Code BD, Arlington, VA 
22203;
     NRL: Ms. Ginger Kisamore, Human Resources Director/
Demonstration Project Program Manager, NRL, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20375-5320;
     NAVSEA Warfare Centers: Ms. Diane Brown, NAVSEA Warfare 
Centers Personnel Demonstration Project Manager, Naval Surface Warfare 
Center Philadelphia Division, 5001 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 
19112-5083;
     NAVAIR, Weapons Division and Aircraft Division: Mr. 
Richard Cracraft, Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division (NAWCWD), 
Code 730000D, 1 Administration Circle, Building 00464, China Lake, CA 
93555-6100;
     Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Space and Naval 
Warfare Systems Center (SSC):
    [cir] SSC Atlantic: Ms. Veronica Truesdale, SSC Atlantic STRL 
Project Lead, SSC Atlantic, P.O. Box 190022, North Charleston, SC 
29419-9022;
    [cir] SSC Pacific: Ms. Angela Hanson, SSC Pacific STRL Project 
Lead, SSC Pacific, 53560 Hull Street, San Diego, CA 92152-5001.

DoD

    Dr. Jagadeesh Pamulapati, Director, DoD Laboratories Office, 4800 
Mark Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22350, (571) 372-6372, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background

    Section 342(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 
Fiscal Year (FY) 1995, Public Law (Pub. L.) 103-337, as amended by 
section 1109 of the NDAA for FY 2000, Public Law 106-65, and section 
1114 of the NDAA for FY 2001, Public Law 106-398, authorizes the 
Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) to conduct personnel demonstration 
projects at DoD laboratories designated as STRLs. All STRLs authorized 
by section 1105 of the NDAA for FY 2010, Public Law 111-84, as well as 
any newly-designated STRLs authorized by SECDEF or future legislation 
may use the provisions described in this Federal Register Notice (FRN). 
STRLs implementing this flexibility must have an approved personnel 
management demonstration project plan published in a FRN and shall 
fulfill any collective bargaining obligations. Each STRL shall 
establish internal operating procedures as appropriate. The 15 current 
STRLs are:

 Army Research Institute (ARI)
 Army Research Laboratory (ARL)
 Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering 
Center (AMRDEC)

[[Page 29281]]

 Communications-Electronics Research, Development, and 
Engineering Center (CERDEC)
 Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC)
 Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)
 Medical Research and Materiel Command (MRMC)
 Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center 
(NSRDEC)
 Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center 
(TARDEC)
 Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC)
 Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC)
 Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
 Office of Naval Research (ONR)
 Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)
 Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Warfare Centers
 Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Warfare Centers, Weapons 
Division and Aircraft Division
 Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Space and Naval 
Warfare Systems Center (SSC), Atlantic and Pacific

2. Overview

I. Introduction

A. Purpose
    Section 1105 of the NDAA for FY 2015 establishes a new direct hire 
authority for students enrolled in a scientific, technical, 
engineering, or mathematics course of study at an accredited 
institution of higher education on a temporary or term basis. The 
purpose of this direct-hire authority is to provide a streamlined and 
accelerated hiring process that allows the STRLs to compete 
successfully with private industry for high-quality scientific, 
technical, engineering, or mathematics students for filling STRL 
scientific and engineering positions. This authority creates a unique 
student hiring authority for the STRL scientific and engineering 
positions: The STEM SSEP. Section 1104 of the NDAA for FY16 provides 
students appointed under the SSEP the opportunity for noncompetitive 
conversion to a permanent scientific or engineering position upon 
graduation from the applicable institution of higher education.
    To effectively implement the SSEP, this FRN also:
    1. Establishes SSEP student employment qualification standards, 
similar to the Pathways qualification standards, which will allow 
students appointed under this authority to be aligned to a pay band/
grade commensurate with the highest level of education completed and/or 
prior experience.
    2. Establishes a flexible length student term appointment, which 
will provide a mechanism for students appointed under the SSEP to 
remain on a term appointment until completion of their educational 
program. Absent this flexibility, SSEP appointees would be limited to a 
four-year appointment in accordance with 5 CFR 316.301.
B. Required Waivers to Law and Regulation
    Section 1105 of the NDAA for FY 2015 permits the Department to 
waive subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, U.S Code (U.S.C.) (other 
than sections 3303 and 3328) when using the SSEP direct-hire authority. 
Section 1104 of the NDAA for FY 2016 permits the Department to waive 
provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, U.S.C. (other than 
sections 3303 and 3328) and provides for noncompetitive conversion of 
SSEP students. Appendix A lists the laws, rules, and regulations that 
require waivers to implement the authorities described in this FRN.
C. Expected Benefits
    This direct-hire authority is expected to streamline the hiring and 
development of high-quality SSEP students pursuing bachelors or 
advanced degrees in STEM courses of study. This direct-hire and 
noncompetitive conversion authority enhances the STRLs' ability to 
compete with private industry by improving recruiting efforts; 
providing clear career tracks for STEM students from undergraduate 
through post-graduate school; and offering career progression 
opportunities for STEM students who join the STRL scientific and 
engineering workforce.
D. Participating Organizations and Employees
    All DoD laboratories designated as STRLs under section 1105 of the 
NDAA for FY 2010 and section 1105 of the NDAA for FY 2015 (including 
any newly-designated STRLs authorized by SECDEF or by future 
legislation) with approved personnel management demonstration project 
plans published in FRNs may use the provisions described in this FRN.

II. Personnel System Changes

    All current STRL demonstration project plans are hereby amended to 
add the following:
A. Authority
    STRLs may use the direct-hire authority authorized by section 1105 
of the NDAA for FY 2015 to appoint students pursuing bachelors or 
advanced degrees in STEM disciplines to temporary, term, flexible 
length student term, or, for those STRLs with modified term appointment 
authority, via modified term appointments. STRLs may use the authority 
authorized by section 1104 of the NDAA for FY 2016 to provide SSEP 
students noncompetitive conversion to permanent scientific or 
engineering positions upon graduation from the applicable institution 
of higher education provided the students meet all eligibility criteria 
and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) qualification requirements for 
the position.
B. Definitions
    1. STEM positions are those positions described in the STRL FRN 
(Appendix B) or internal operating procedures in the Scientist and 
Engineer and/or Technical Career Paths. The positions not classified 
under the broad-banding structure will be identified in respective STRL 
internal operating procedures.
    2. Institution of higher education is defined in sections 1001 and 
1002 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
    3. Qualified candidates are defined as students who:
    (a) Are enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) in a program of 
undergraduate or graduate instruction leading to a bachelor's or 
advanced degree in a (STEM) course of study at an institution of higher 
education as that term is defined in section B.2., and includes those 
enrolled in a 2-year university parallel (or equivalent) program 
designed specifically for transfer to a 4-year institution.
    (b) Meet the minimum qualification standards for the position as 
described in Appendix C of this FRN or the specific STRL demonstration 
project qualification standards for the position to be filled.
    4. ``Employee'' is defined by 5 U.S.C. 2105.
C. Provisions
    1. Use of this appointment authority must be consistent with merit 
system principles.
    2. Student appointments authorized by section 1105 of the NDAA for 
2015 may be term, modified term, flexible length student term or 
temporary. If students are appointed under existing term or modified 
term appointments

[[Page 29282]]

because flexible length student term appointments are not available at 
the time of appointment, they may convert to the new flexible length 
student term appointment provided they were notified in writing at the 
time of the initial appointment of the possibility they may be 
converted at a later date.
    3. Qualified candidates may be appointed to scientific and 
engineering student positions without regard to the provisions of 
subchapter I of chapter 33, title 5, U.S.C. (other than sections 3303 
and 3328).
    4. Upon graduation from the applicable institution of higher 
education, successful candidates in section 2.II.C.3. may be 
noncompetitively converted to permanent scientific or engineering 
positions in the competitive service within the STRL without regard to 
the provisions of 5 U.S.C. chapter 33 (other than sections 3303 and 
3328).
    5. During each calendar year, each STRL may use this authority to 
appoint no more than (10) percent of the total number of scientific and 
engineering positions within the STRL that are filled at the close of 
the previous fiscal year.
    6. Classification/Pay Bands/Career Tracks. This FRN authorizes the 
STRLs to establish separate pay band/career track level(s) or to modify 
existing pay band/career track level(s) and classification guidelines 
to accommodate students hired under this direct-hire authority. 
Specific details regarding student classification pay band/career track 
level(s) shall be included in the respective STRLs' internal operating 
procedures.
    7. Temporary Appointments (Students). Temporary appointments are 
typically used for short-term use (e.g., summer employment), however, 
temporary appointments may be made for up to one year and may be 
extended provided the criteria for the student appointment continue to 
be met. An appointment after a break-in-service of three or more days 
shall count against the direct-hire allocation in section 2.II.C.5. 
Students may not be promoted while serving on the temporary 
appointment, but may be converted to a new appointment at a higher 
grade/band level provided the student meets the qualification 
requirements for the higher grade/band position. This conversion to a 
new appointment does not count against the direct-hire allocation in 
section 2.II.C.5.
    8. Flexible Length Student Term Appointments (Students). A flexible 
length student term appointment authority is created for SSEP students 
appointed for a period of at least one year. The flexible length 
student term appointment will have no end date, but will expire 120 
days after completion of the designated academic course of study unless 
the human resources office has been notified via receipt of a Request 
for Personnel Action (SF-52) for noncompetitive conversion to a 
permanent position. The eligibility criteria for the student 
appointment must continue to be met for the duration of the 
appointment. SSEP participants who complete one educational program and 
continue to meet the definition of ``student'' in section 2.II.B.3(a) 
while further pursuing their education are not counted against the 
direct-hire allocation in 2.II.C.5 as a new appointment.
    (a) Promotion. Students may be promoted while serving on the 
flexible length student term appointment to a higher grade/band level 
provided the student meets the program and qualification requirements 
for the position.
    9. SSEP participants must complete a probationary period in 
accordance with 10 U.S.C. 1599e, or an approved STRL Lab Demo extended 
probationary period requirement, upon conversion to the competitive 
service. When an SSEP participant is converted directly from the SSEP 
to a permanent, competitive service position in a similar line of work 
without a break in service, time spent in the SSEP may be credited 
toward probationary period completion in accordance with title 5 CFR 
315.802.
    10. Documenting Personnel Actions (Students). Personnel actions for 
appointments of SSEP appointees are documented citing the first legal 
authority code (LAC)/legal authority as Z2U/Public Law 103-337. The 
second LAC/legal authority will be Z5CD/Direct-Hire Auth (STRL-
Student), section 1105(1)(a)(3), Public Law 113-291, 12/19/2014.
    11. Noncompetitive Conversion to Permanent Appointment. Students on 
temporary, term, or flexible length student term SSEP appointments may 
be noncompetitively converted to a permanent appointment at the 
discretion of the STRL director. The authority to convert the student 
to a permanent position may be further delegated in the STRL's internal 
operating procedures. These conversions do not count against the 
direct-hire allocation in 79 FR 43722, July 28, 2014, paragraph 
2.II.B.4.
    (a) Students employed under the SSEP may be noncompetitively 
converted to a permanent appointment upon graduation from the 
applicable institution of higher learning, provided the student meets 
all eligibility criteria and OPM qualification requirements for the 
STRL scientific or engineering position.
    (b) The conversion request must be submitted to the human resources 
office within 120 days of completion of all degree requirements, but 
before the time-limited appointment expires.
    (1) Time spent under a term or flexible length student term 
appointment shall count towards probationary period completion and 
career tenure. If the student was converted from a temporary to a term 
or flexible length student term appointment without a break in service 
of three days and was subsequently converted to a permanent position, 
the temporary time shall also count towards career tenure.
    (2) Time spent under a temporary appointment, unless otherwise 
provided in section 2.II.C.11(b)(1), is not counted towards career 
tenure.
    (3) SSEP students are subject to a probationary period as specified 
in section 2.II.C.9.
    (4) The provisions of the career transition assistance programs in 
subparts B, F, and G of 5 CFR part 330 do not apply to the 
noncompetitive conversions.
    (c) In cases where the STRL Director does not plan to convert the 
SSEP student to a permanent position, the SSEP's Flexible Length 
Student Term appointment may be terminated less than 120 days after 
completion of the designated academic course of study, subject to any 
applicable requirements of 5 U.S.C. chapter 75.
    12. Documenting Personnel Actions (Noncompetitive Conversions). 
Personnel actions for noncompetitive conversions of SSEP participants 
to permanent appointments are documented citing the first legal 
authority code (LAC)/legal authority as Z2U/Public Law 103-337. The 
second LAC/legal authority will be Z5CE/Direct-Hire Auth (STRL-SSEP 
Conv), section 1104, Public Law 114-92, 11/25/2015.
    13. Recruitment flexibilities.
    (a) Tuition Assistance.
    (1) Students may be eligible for tuition assistance. At the STRL 
Director's discretion, a student may be required to sign a written 
service agreement to continue in service for a period of up to three 
times the length of the time spent in training prior to accepting 
tuition assistance. The requirement for the length of the service 
obligation should be included in the respective STRL's internal 
operating procedures.
    (2) A student who is eligible to continue employment for the 
duration of the obligated service and who does

[[Page 29283]]

not fulfill the service obligation may be required to provide 
repayment. Pursuant to 5 CFR chapter 1, section 410.309(c).
    (3) Expenses of training. Students hired under the SSEP may be paid 
travel expenses when the worksite is in a different geographic location 
than that of the student's academic institution. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
4109(a)(2), these expenses may be paid each time the student returns to 
duty to the STRL. Procedures for paying these expenses shall be 
documented in the STRL's respective internal operating procedures.
    (b) Pay Flexibilities.
    (1) STRLs may use any applicable pay flexibilities (e.g., 
recruitment, relocation, and retention incentives under 5 CFR part 575; 
student loan repayments under 5 CFR part 537; and the superior 
qualifications and special needs pay setting authority and the maximum 
payable rate rule under 5 CFR part 531, subpart B, or demonstration 
project pay flexibilities). Procedures for paying these flexibilities 
shall be documented in the STRL's respective internal operating 
procedures.
    (2) Relocation Incentive/Bonus. Students hired under the SSEP may 
receive a relocation incentive/bonus. The authority to pay relocation 
incentives is expanded to allow an STRL to pay an incentive each time 
the student returns to duty to the laboratory. This authority applies 
to all student positions in the STRLs and provides the ability to 
expand recruitment to top universities and incentivize mobility by 
paying additional expenses to students accepting employment outside of 
their geographic area. A relocation bonus may be paid when the worksite 
is in a different geographic location than that of the student's 
college and is intended to cover some or all of the student's living 
expenses while working in the STRL. Procedures for paying these 
incentives shall be documented in the STRLs internal operating 
procedures. This section provides all designated STRLs the authority to 
implement a relocation bonus similar to the authority granted to the 
AFRL in the Air Force Research Laboratory in 75 FR 53076.
D. Personnel Considerations
    1. Work Schedules. There are no limitations on the number of hours 
a student can work per week as long as all applicable laws and 
regulations governing overtime and hours of work are adhered to. 
Supervisors and students should agree on a schedule of school and work 
such that work responsibilities do not interfere unduly with the 
academic schedule and that completion of the educational program is 
accomplished.
    2. Break in Program. STRL directors may use their discretion in 
either approving or denying a request for a break in program. This may 
be further delegated in the STRLs' internal operating procedures. A 
break in program is a period of time when the student is working but is 
unable to go to school, or is neither attending classes nor working.
    3. Reduction in Force (RIF). Demonstration project students are 
covered by the RIF rules outlined in each STRL's FRN. Students serving 
under a temporary appointment are covered under Tenure Group 0 until 
completion of one year of continuous creditable civilian service. If 
the temporary appointment is extended for an additional year, then the 
tenure changes to Tenure Group 3. Students serving on a term 
appointment are covered under Tenure Group 3.

    Note:  All STRL RIF rules must be updated to incorporate the 
requirements of 10 U.S.C. 1597(f).

    4. Termination.
    (a) Temporary appointments expire upon the not-to-exceed date, 
unless extended.
    (b) Flexible Length Student Term appointments for SSEP students 
expire 120 days after completion of the designated academic course of 
study, unless the human resources office has been notified that the 
student will be converted noncompetitively to a permanent position as 
described in paragraph 2.II.C.11.
    (c) Individuals may retain eligibility for SSEP if they continue to 
meet the definition of a ``student'' (i.e., are enrolled in a 
qualifying academic program) as identified in Section 2.II.B.3 and meet 
any academic requirements specified by the employing STRL.
    (d) Students may be terminated for reasons including, but not 
limited to, mission requirements, misconduct, poor performance 
(including academic), or suitability.
E. Authorized Positions
    1. SSEP appointments. The number of appointments made in a calendar 
year may not exceed 10 percent of the total number of scientific and 
engineering positions in such STRL, to include Senior Executive 
Service, Senior Technical, Senior Scientific Technical Manager or above 
General Schedule (GS)-15, military, and students within the STRL that 
are filled as of the close of the fiscal year ending before the start 
of such calendar year.
    2. When determining the number of appointments authorized, if the 
percentage of authorized positions does not equal a whole number, the 
STRL shall round down to the next lower number.
    3. Any changes to these authorizations, such as (but not limited 
to) increasing the number of appointments allowed or extending/
eliminating the sunset date, do not require additional FRN 
notification.
F. Evaluation
    STRLs will provide information and data on the use of these direct-
hire appointment authorities including numerical limitations, hires 
made, declinations, veterans hired, difficulties encountered, and/or 
recognized efficiencies when requested by the SECDEF, head of the 
Military Department, Assistant Secretary of Defense (Research & 
Engineering), or Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Civilian 
Personnel Policy).

Appendix A

United States Code and Code of Federal Regulations Waived Science and 
Technology Reinvention Laboratories

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Title 5, Code of Federal
      Title 5, United States Code                  Regulations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5,   5 CFR 300-330, other than
 U.S.C. (other than sections 3303 and     Subpart G of 300 waived to the
 3328).                                   extent necessary to allow
                                          provisions of the direct hire
                                          authorities as described in
                                          this FRN.
                                         5 CFR Part 316, Subparts C-D--
                                          Waived to the extent necessary
                                          to allow provisions of the
                                          direct hire authorities as
                                          described in this FRN.

[[Page 29284]]

 
5 U.S.C. 4108 (a)-(c)--Employee          5 CFR, Part 410, Sec.
 Agreements; Service after Training.      410.309--Waived to allow: (1)
 Waive to allow: (1) the STRLs to         the STRLs to determine if a
 determine if a service agreement is      service agreement is required
 required and if so, to determine the     and if so, the period of
 period of required service for           required service for students
 students employed under the Demo; (2)    employed under the demo; (2)
 the Commanding Officer or the            the Commanding Officer or the
 Laboratory STRL Director to waive in     STRL Director to waive in
 whole or in part a right of recovery;    whole or in part a right of
 and (3) allow students to sign a         recovery; and (3) allow
 service agreement up to three times      students to sign a service
 the length of the training.              agreement up to three times
                                          the length of the training.
5 U.S.C. 5753--Recruitment and           5 CFR part 575, Subparts A and
 relocation bonuses. Waived to the        B--Recruitment and Relocation
 extent necessary to allow those STRL     Incentives. Waived to the
 scientific and engineering employees     extent necessary to allow
 and positions to be treated as           employees hired and positions
 employees and positions under the        under the SSEP program to be
 General Schedule and to allow            treated as employees and
 relocation incentives to be paid to      positions under the General
 SSEP students whose worksite is in a     Schedule and to allow
 different geographic location than       relocation incentives to be
 that of the college in which enrolled    paid to SSEP students whose
 each time they return to duty.           worksite is in a different
                                          geographic location than that
                                          of the college in which
                                          enrolled each time they return
                                          to duty.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix B

STRLs Federal Register Notice of Approval of a Demonstration Project 
Plan

Part 1: STRLs Authorized by Director of Defense Research and 
Engineering, Memo 30 Aug 1994 and Section 342 of the FY 1995 NDAA, 
Public Law 103-337

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  STRL                       Federal Register notice
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Force Research Laboratory..........  61 FR 60400 amended by 75 FR
                                          53076.
Army Research Laboratory...............  63 FR 10680.
Aviation and Missile Research,           62 FR 34906 and 62 FR 34876
 Development, and Engineering Center.     amended by 65 FR 53142 (AVRDEC
                                          and AMRDEC merged together).
Communications-Electronics Research,     66 FR 54872.
 Development, and Engineering Center.
Engineer Research and Development        63 FR 14580.
 Center.
Medical Research and Material Command..  63 FR 10440.
Naval Research Laboratory..............  64 FR 33970.
Naval Sea Systems Command Warfare        62 FR 64050.
 Centers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 2. STRLs Authorized by Section 1105 of the FY 2010 NDAA, 
Public Law 111-84

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  STRL                       Federal Register notice
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armament Research, Development and       76 FR 3744.
 Engineering Center.
Edgewood Chemical Biological Center....  74 FR 68936.
Natick Soldier Research, Development     74 FR 68448.
 and Engineering Center.
Naval Air Systems Command Warfare        76 FR 8530.
 Centers, Weapons and Aircraft
 Divisions.
Office of Naval Research...............  75 FR 77380.
Space and Naval Warfare Systems          76 FR 1924.
 Command, Space and Naval Warfare
 Systems Center, Atlantic and Pacific.
Tank Automotive Research, Development    76 FR 12508.
 and Engineering Center.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix C

Qualification Standards for STRL Student Trainee Positions

    This standard describes the qualification requirements for the 
STEM Student Employment Program (SSEP) participants.

Requirements for SSEP Participants

    Appointments may be at the highest grade or level for which the 
participant is qualified.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Grade/level                       Level of education
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GS-2 or Demo Equivalent................  Completion of high school or
                                          GED diploma.
GS-3 or Demo Equivalent................  Completion of 1 full academic
                                          year of post-high school
                                          study.
GS-4 or Demo Equivalent................  Completion of 2 full academic
                                          years of post-high school
                                          study or an associate's
                                          degree.
GS-5 or Demo Equivalent................  Completion of 4 academic years
                                          of post-high school leading to
                                          a bachelor's or equivalent
                                          degree.

[[Page 29285]]

 
GS-7 or Demo Equivalent................  Completion of 1 full academic
                                          year of graduate level
                                          education; or eligibility
                                          under the Superior Academic
                                          Achievement Provision and
                                          completion of a bachelor's
                                          degree.
GS-9 or Demo Equivalent................  Completion of 2 academic years
                                          of graduate level education,
                                          or a master's degree or
                                          equivalent graduate degree.
GS-11 or Demo Equivalent...............  For research positions,
                                          completion of all requirements
                                          for a master's or equivalent
                                          degree. For non-research
                                          positions, completion of all
                                          requirements for a PhD or
                                          equivalent degree.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One full academic year of undergraduate; graduate; technical or 
high school education is the number of credit hours determined by 
the college, university or school to represent one year of full-time 
study. The high school curriculum must be approved by a State or 
local governing body. All education beyond the high school level 
must be accredited by an accrediting body or organization recognized 
by the U.S. Department of Education.
    Special Provisions/or Students with Previous Related Education 
or Experience. Previous education and/or experience may be evaluated 
to determine the highest grade level/band for which the student is 
qualified.

    Dated: June 22, 2017.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 2017-13487 Filed 6-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P