Comment Number: OL-10509103
Received: 3/15/2005 12:54:00 PM
Subject: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment
Title: National Security Personnel System
CFR Citation: 5 CFR Chapter XCIX and Part 9901
No Attachments

Comments:

I would first like to thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed National Security Personnel System (NSPS). Based on information provided in the public notice, it appears that the desire and intent of those who developed this system is to make the Department of Defense a more agile and flexible work force. While I support this desire and intent, the public notice was very vague regarding the details of the NSPS. As a result, I would like to request that an additional public notice and comment period be made available prior to NSPS implementation. This additional public notice and comment period is necessary in order to provide time to evaluate additional details of the NSPS as well as determine if NSPS is truly in the best interest for federal employees, the public, and for national security. Until late December 2004, I was working as a consultant for a private environmental engineering firm. In the fall of 2004, I applied for and was offered a GS-7/9/11 position with the USACE. When the position was offered to me, I was told that due to budget constraints, a GS-9 was the highest grade at which I could be hired. While my experience was more than sufficient for hiring at a GS-11, I elected to take a fairly substantial pay cut and accept the position with the USACE due to the benefits I would realize while working for the federal government as well as the knowledge that I would become a GS 11 in one year. I will be eligible for a GS-11 position in December 2005. The current difference in salary between a GS-9 and a GS-11 is $9,032. Under the proposed NSPS system I would not be able to realize this difference in pay, even at the highest performing level. I was able to leave the private sector and accept a lower paying position knowing that I would receive this pay increase. It is unacceptable for the federal government to not fulfill their agreement of non-competitive promotions with its employees not at their full performance level. I would also like to suggest serious reservations with the proposed evaluation system. What checks and balances will be provided to prevent: 1) A supervisor from providing lower scores to a high performing employee he/she does not like or favor 2) A high-performing employee from not receiving the raise he/she deserves because his/her supervisor’s inability to justify it to the board? Once again, I thank you for the opportunity to provide these comments regarding the proposed NSPS. I sincerely hope you will address each concern to the fullest possible extent.