Date: 
Mon, 11/21/2016
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA)
ON
Acquisition Demo (AcqDemo) Program at Arnold Air Force Base (AFB)


References:
A. DOD Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project Operating Procedures, dated 15 May 2003
B. AcqDemo Memorandums (AM’s) 13-01, dated 03 Jan, 2013, 13-04, dated 28 Mar 2013, 14-02, dated 21 Oct 2014, 13-02, dated 19 Feb 2013, 13-03, dated 1 Jul 2013, and 12-01, dated 05 Dec 2012.
C. Acquisition Demo Program Expansion to Arnold A.F.B. MOA, dated 31 Aug 2012

1. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 214 and Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), hereafter referred to as the Union and Management, hereby enter into this MOA regarding the above matters as they apply to AFGE bargaining unit employees (BUEs) covered by the Master Labor Agreement (MLA) between the Parties.

2. AcqDemo is a congressionally-mandated project designed to provide an alternative to the General Schedule personnel system. The DOD AcqDemo Operating Procedures outline the scope of management and employee responsibilities, participation, and transition within the AcqDemo project (Reference A). The AM’s noted above (Reference B) change and clarify the measures outlined in the AcqDemo Operating Procedures. This MOA amends Article 15 of the 2012 Master Labor Agreement (MLA) and provides guidance for the trial application of the AcqDemo program at Arnold A.F.B. as outlined in the Acquisition Demo Program Expansion MOA (Reference C).

3. This MOA will be provided to all BUE’s incorporated into the AcqDemo program. Position Requirements Document (PRD)

4. The PRD will accurately reflect the duties, responsibilities, and KSA’s for the occupational series, title, career path, and broadband level of the position. The PRD will also contain the Contribution-Based Compensation and Appraisal System (CCAS) Factors, Discriminators, and Descriptors designed for the corresponding career path and broadband level. These are the Factors on which the employees’ contributions will be evaluated.

5. Each employee will receive a PRD upon entry into an AcqDemo position. The PRD replaces the current agency-developed position description document. Contribution Plan (CP)

6. CCAS is an appraisal system that measures the employee’s contribution to the mission of the organization. The CCAS appraisal cycle starts 1 October and ends 30 September each year. A CP outlines the expectations of the employees throughout the rating cycle, and their contribution to the organizational mission. The CP will be developed based on the duties identified in the PRD and IAW AFMC business rules. The CP is a written document, which is maintained online in the Contribution-Based Compensation and Appraisal System Software for the Internet (CAS2Net) of contribution objectives tailored to the duties and responsibilities of each individual employee. The CP will accurately reflect management’s expectations for contributions, and to ensure the employee’s contributions are commensurate with their current salary.

7. In addition to supervisor expectations, hard copies of “An Employee’s Guide to CCAS, Understanding the Contribution-Based Compensation and Appraisal System of the AcqDemo” will be provided to employees. This information is also available at http://acqdemo.hci.mil/training.html. The guide provides employees with Broadband Level Descriptors and Discriminators which serve as benchmarks for describing individual contributions. Management will ensure pay pools use the Broadband Level Descriptors and Discriminators as the benchmarks by which employees will be evaluated for their contributions during the CCAS appraisal cycle.

8. At the beginning of each CCAS appraisal cycle, the supervisor should communicate the organization’s mission and goals to the employee. Employees will be given the opportunity to provide input regarding proposed contribution objectives for the CCAS cycle via the CAS2Net system. The CP will address all six factors of contribution evaluation in the Contribution – Results – Impact (CRI) format. The supervisor will finalize the CP in CAS2Net and discuss the final CP with the employee IAW AcqDemo Operating Procedures. If additional clarification or explanation of the CP is provided during the discussion, the discussion will be documented on a separate piece of paper or Memorandum for Record (MFR) and inserted into the Supervisor’s Employee Work Folder (AF Form 971). The date and method of communication regarding the CP will be entered in CAS2Net by the supervisor. Whenever an employee’s duties, mission, or goals significantly change in a manner that the CP is no longer applicable, the employee and supervisor will discuss the new duties and the CP will be updated in CAS2Net as necessary.

Mid-Point Reviews

9. A minimum of one mid-point review will normally be held at the midpoint of the annual CCAS cycle. The employee may request additional feedback at any point during the CCAS cycle. The mid-point review allows employees and supervisors to discuss the employee’s current contributions compared to the employees CP, and allows the supervisor to provide feedback on how to improve contributions, maintain current contribution levels, or contribution levels compared to pay pool established rating criteria. The supervisor will finalize the mid-point review in CAS2Net and discuss it with the employee IAW AcqDemo Operating Procedures. If any areas of needed improvement are identified, or any other details the supervisor feels are pertinent to record are discussed, the discussion will be documented on a separate piece of paper or MFR and inserted into the AF Form 971. The supervisor will record the date and method of communication regarding the mid-point review in CAS2Net. Supervisors may consider discussions with employees when reviewing mid-point feedback records during final appraisal.

10. Prior to each scheduled mid-point review and the final CCAS appraisal, the employee will be encouraged to provide "self-assessment" statements within CAS2Net, utilizing “CRI” format and ensuring that all six factors are addressed. Employee self-assessment statements are voluntary and the absence of a self-assessment statement alone will not justify a negative mid-point review or appraisal result.

CCAS Appraisal Process

11. Employees will have access to training on writing effective “self-assessment” statements and contribution objectives. Employees will be granted a reasonable amount of duty time to complete “self-assessment” statements.

12. When determining an employee’s CCAS contributions and associated compensation, weighting of factors may be used at the discretion of the pay pool and pay pool manager IAW AcqDemo Operating Procedures and local business rules. The total award budget distribution between CCAS awards and other awards throughout the year will be decided by a Personnel Policy Board IAW AcqDemo Operating Procedures. Pay pools which include bargaining unit employees should ensure a Union representative be provided with a copy of pay pool business rules and provided an opportunity to provide feedback. The Union will be notified at least 15 calendar days prior to the CCAS pay pool deliberations taking place. The total award budget set aside for CCAS awards will be IAW the Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project (AcqDemo) Federal Register.

13. The supervisor will communicate the appraisal Overall Contribution Score (OCS), factor scores, and pay adjustments to each employee in a formal feedback session. The supervisor will record the date and method of communication in CAS2Net.

14. Employees who are under CCAS for less than 90 consecutive calendar days and are in a pay pool as of September 30 will receive General Pay Increase (GPI) IAW AcqDemo Operating Procedures

15. The pay pool manager and supervisors must ensure the employee information contained in the program is safeguarded during the CCAS process. The Privacy Act of 1974 applies to all data, regardless whether finalized or not, during the entire process. Employee information, such as name, will not be disclosed outside of pay pool proceedings. Pay pool managers who convey the outcomes of the CCAS process must do so in a manner that ensures individuals cannot be personally identified by the posting of the results.

16. Supervisors should document counseling sessions when employees receive feedback for deterioration of contributions. Feedback sessions should be conducted between the supervisor and employee when the deterioration in contributions occurs. Documentation of these sessions should occur following counseling sessions. Deteriorating contributions must be documented prior to initiating a Contribution Improvement Plan (CIP).

17. In the event of inadequate contribution based on rail position at the end of a rating period the supervisor has two options IAW AcqDemo Operating Procedures:

a. Take no action but document this decision in a Memorandum for Record (MFR). The MFR will be signed by the supervisor and the employee (signature indicated receipt acknowledgement). The supervisor retains a copy in the Supervisor’s Employee Work Folder (AF Form 971), and provides a copy to the employee.

b. Inform the employee, in writing, that unless the contribution increases to, and is sustained at a higher level (thereby meeting this standard for adequate contribution), the employee may be reduced in pay or removed. This option requires that the written notification include a CIP. The supervisor retains a copy in the Supervisor’s Employee Work Folder (AF Form 971) and provides a copy to the employee. Contribution Improvement Plan (Optional and Mandatory)

18. A decision to reduce pay or remove an employee for inadequate contribution shall be IAW AcqDemo Operating Procedures. All employees shall be given a written notice of proposal to take a contribution based action at least 30 calendar days prior to the date the action will be effective. All relevant documentation pertaining to a reduction in pay or removal that is based on inadequate contributions shall be preserved and made available for review IAW AcqDemo Operating Procedures. In the event that a proposed action does not take place because an employee has achieved an adequate level of contribution the employee will be notified in writing that the proposed action will not be taken, with the employee receiving a copy and a copy retained in the Supervisor’s Employee Work Folder (AF Form 971).

Transfers and Reassignments

19. In the event of downsizing associated with a formal reorganization/realignment, management will inform potentially affected employees of the potential for downsizing at least 90 calendar days prior to the action taking place. Management will inform employees of their right to request reassignment or change to a lower grade at least 90 calendar days prior to downsizing occurring. Management will also instruct potentially affected employees on the procedures for requesting expedited reassignment or change to a lower broadband or grade as a Priority Placement Program (PPP) registrant after formal notice is provided to the affected employee.

20. Employees may receive a lateral reassignment to the same or different broadband with the same maximum base pay providing the employee meets OPM qualifications standards and DAWIA requirements for the position, as applicable. A new CP will be completed to ensure the employee understands the new assignment and the contributions that are expected. If the employee does not consent the employee must be provided written notice of the intent to reassign at least 30 calendar days prior to the effective date. The employee and the supervisor will both sign the intent to reassign and a copy will be given to the employee and a copy retained in the Supervisor’s Employee Work Folder (AF Form 971).

21. Upon an employee’s placement to a position with no change in series or broadband level the supervisor will document in the Supervisor’s Employee Work Folder (AF Form 971) the date of the change, the lack of change to series, broadband level, and KSA’s, and employee understanding of the reassignment. A new CP will be completed to ensure the employee understands the new assignment, expected contributions and the plan will be entered into CAS2Net.

Movement to a Lower Broadband Level

22. In the event of a voluntary change to a lower broadband in the same or different career path the employee’s salary may be set at any point within the broadband level to which appointed, except that the new salary will not exceed the employee’s current salary or the maximum salary of the broadband level to which assigned, whichever is lower. An employee’s written request for a voluntary change to a lower broadband or different career path will include a reason(s) for the request as well as employee and supervisor signatures and dates. All actions shall be documented by use of an official personnel action and be retained in the Supervisor’s Employee Work Folder (AF Form 971) as well as appropriately filed IAW local procedures. If the employee applies through a USA Job Announcement and is selected, this is considered the written request.

23. An employee may receive a reduction in pay within his/her existing broadband level and career path; be changed to a lower broadband level; and/or be moved to a new position in a different career path due to a contribution based action. An employee may only be involuntarily moved to a lower broadband after the pay pool manager determined that the employee contributions resulted in an inadequate contribution which resulted in a lack of partial or no general pay increase (GPI). Change to a lower broadband is authorized when the base pay results in a salary lower than the minimum of the pre-appraisal broadband.

24. Employees who are involuntarily reduced in pay/changed to a lower broadband due to an adverse action will have their based pay reduced by at least six percent, but will be set no lower than the minimum salary of the broadband level to which assigned. Employees placed into a lower broadband due to adverse action are not entitled to pay retention.

25. Employees who are involuntarily reduced in pay/changed to a lower broadband due to a contribution based action will have their pay reduced at least six percent but will not be set any lower than the salary of the next lower stop and consider point used IAW AFMC business rules when considering increases in pay. Change to a lower broadband is only authorized when the decrease in pay results in a salary lower than the minimum of the pre-appraisal broadband. In the event the reduction in pay does not result in a salary lower than the minimum of the pre-appraisal broadband, no change to a lower broadband is authorized.

26. In cases where an involuntary change to a lower broadband occurs that is not a result of adverse or contribution based action (i.e. RIF/Surplus), the employee’s salary will either be their current salary if within the salary range of the new broadband, the maximum salary within the new broadband, or will receive retained pay, whichever is commensurate with the employees current salary. The employee must receive at least 30 calendar day’s written notice prior to an involuntary change to a lower broadband in the same or different career path. The written notice will include a reason(s) for the change, the planned effective date, and associated appeal rights. In addition, the employee’s and supervisor’s signatures and dates will be documented on the written notice. All actions shall be documented by use of an official personnel action and copies shall be retained in the Supervisor’s Employee Work Folder (AF Form 971).

Temporary Promotions

27. Employees who are serving in a temporary promotion will have their expected contributions adjusted accordingly, as appropriate, to account for the lack of contributions relating to their primary position as outlined in their CP. Such time away from their primary position for temporary promotion duties will not be viewed as lack of contributions.

Occupation, Series, and Broadband Level Concerns

28. If an employee formally raises a concern pertaining to the occupational series, title, or broadband level of his or her position to the supervisor it must be done in writing. It is the supervisor’s responsibility to inform the employee of the requirement for formal concerns to be in writing. The union will be notified in writing after an employee appeal has been filed within 10 work days. All documentation will be provided to the union pertaining to the appeal upon union request.

CCAS Grievances

29. All employees who are in the bargaining unit may grieve CCAS Overall Contribution Score (OCS) and/or Contribution Improvement Plans under Article 6 of the MLA. The union may request aggregate data of the CCAS results following the closeout of an appraisal cycle.

Union Representation Duties

30. Union official who perform representation duties 100% of their time are entitled to receive the General Pay Increase (GPI). Employees who perform union representation tasks less than full time will have their expected contributions adjusted accordingly to account for time away from the job for union representation duties. Such time away from the job for union representation duties will not be viewed as lack of contributions.

31. All remedies available under the MLA or 5 U.S.C. 71 will remain available to the parties if concerns cannot be cooperatively resolved.

 

FOR MANAGEMENT                                                 FOR THE UNION 



//signed//                                                      //signed//
__________________________                                     _______________________________
TAMMY LYONS                                                    TROY TINGEY
Chief, Personnel Support Division                              President
HQ AFMC/A1KL                                                   AFGE Council 214




//signed//                                                      //signed//
________________________                                       _______________________________
ROBERT GOOD                                                    ANDREW POWELL
Labor Relations Specialist                                     Executive Assistant
HQ AFMC/A1KL                                                   AFGE Council 214

 

AttachmentSize
AcqDemo_Implementation_at_Arnold_MoA_-_AFGE_C214_-_21_Nov_16.pdf358.12 KB