Hanscom preparing employees for Acquisition Demonstration transition

  • Published
  • By Ted Singer
  • Air Force Materiel Command AcqDemo team lead
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  In June 2016, approximately 500 Hanscom employees will transition to the Department of Defense Civilian Acquisition Workforce Demonstration Project (AcqDemo) pay system.

Employees whose positions have been identified for conversion are being notified through their respective Centers. Hanscom employees in non-bargaining positions will convert to AcqDemo. For Hanscom, this includes mainly supervisory personnel. Exceptions to conversion include the following:

- Personnel in ranks above GS-15, such as SES
- Non-General Schedule (GS) employees; for example, Federal Wage System (FWS) employees (WG), leaders (WL), and supervisors (WS).
- Employees in organizations already participating in another personnel system, including their respective GS employees. Examples are the Air Force Research Laboratory's Air Force Laboratory Personnel Demonstration (Lab Demo) Project and intelligence personnel participating in the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS).
- Employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

The DOD AcqDemo Program Office has pledged support for the initial pre-conversion training of affected Air Force Materiel Command personnel. The training provided by the DOD AcqDemo Program Office consists of:

- AcqDemo Employee Orientation (3 hours) provided to all employees converting to the AcqDemo system (also available on-line as AcqDemo 101)
- Contribution-based Compensation System (CCAS) for supervisors course (8 hours) provided to supervisors of employees converting to AcqDemo (also available on-line)

"This will be a significant change for those in the GS system, even for those who were previously under NSPS [National Security Personnel System]," said Tom Fredericks, 66th Air Base Group deputy director. "It's important that employees take the training so they will understand the AcqDemo system and its requirements."

Hanscom held training for Human Resource representatives, employees scheduled for conversion and supervisory personnel the week of Feb. 1. Individuals who were unable to attend one of the sessions will have an opportunity to complete the required training online at http://acqdemo.hci.mil/training.html. In addition, for supervisory personnel, make-up sessions will be held onsite March 22 and 23.

Employees who convert into AcqDemo will have no loss of pay. GS employees who have accrued time toward their next Within Grade Increase (WGI) or Step Increase will receive a one-time "WGI buy-in" pay adjustment to compensate them for their time served under the GS pay system.

The buy-in is calculated based on the number of calendar weeks between the effective date of the employee's last equivalent increase, i.e. WGI or promotion, and the date of the conversion into AcqDemo. Employees whose performance ratings are "acceptable" are generally eligible for a WGI buy-in. Exceptions to WGI eligibility are under the following situations:

- Employees who are at the 10th step of their grade
- Employees on retained pay
- Employees on retained grade who would not have received a WGI prior to expiration of their retained grade

The General Schedule to AcqDemo conversion calculator link at http://acqdemo.hci.mil/AcqDemoBIC.html explains the AcqDemo buy-in process and provides a demo career path, broadband, and estimated WGI buy-in calculation. It is not intended to determine official conversion information. Official conversion information, including actual WGI buy-in amount, will be communicated to employees at the time of their conversion, through receipt of an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.

For additional information on AcqDemo, visit the DoD Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project website at http://acqdemo.hci.mil/.

(Editor's Note: The 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs Office contributed to this story.)