DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

COMMERCE ALTERNATIVE PERSONNEL SYSTEM OPERATING PROCEDUCES MANUAL

This manual sets forth operating procedures that govern the Department of Commerce’s (DOC) Commerce Alternative Personnel System (CAPS).  The Commerce Alternative Personnel System (CAPS) was implemented as a Demonstration Project on March 29, 1998 as authorized by Title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.) § 4703.  It was designed by the Department with the participation and review of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).  The Demonstration Project became a permanent system on December 26, 2007, with the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, Fiscal Year (FY) 2008.   

The CAPS Board manages the system at the Department level, and each operating unit manages its own internal operations through an Operating Personnel Management Board (OPMB) in accordance with charters and delegations of authority approved by the CAPS Board.  The Director for Human Resources Management and Chief Human Capital Officer, Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM) has overall oversight and accountability responsibility of CAPS and serves as the Chair of the CAPS Board.   

The procedures outlined in this manual are based on the CAPS plan contained in the Federal Register (FR) Notice of December 24, 1997, (62 FR 67434) and subsequent changes made through FR Notices, Department OHRM policies, and/or CAPS Board decisions.  The CAPS follows current laws and regulations, unless specifically waived under the CAPS plan and does not waive civil service laws in the areas of employee leave, employee benefits, Equal Employment Opportunity, Merit System Principles, or Prohibited Personnel Practices.   

These procedures apply to all operating units participating in CAPS.  The procedures are binding; major changes to or deviations from the procedures must be approved by the CAPS Board Chair.  When required, changes shall be made through appropriate notice as determined by the CAPS Board Chair (i.e., FR Notice, correspondence, etc.). 

I.    INTRODUCTION 

II.   HUMAN RESOURCES SYSTEM 

III.  SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION