Additional Travel Payment Allowances Authorized by Public Law 94-22

Proposal:

To provide for additional travel costs due to increased rates for mileage and per diem. allowances as authorized under Public Law 94-22, Travel Expense Amendments Act of 1975.

The Need: To maintain travel at the same level as in 1976, which will enable continuation of administration of worker adjustment assistance and participation in international trade negotiations; participation in the International Labor Organization and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; participation in directing the U.S. Labor Attache program; and assisting the overseas information, cultural and technical assistance activities of the U.S. Government.

The Program:

Public Law 94-22 was enacted May 19, 1975, providing for increased allowances in mileage and per diem and established special rates for selected high cost cities. This request represents only an increase in the cost of travel; it does not increase the amount of travel.

Activity 4. Administration and Management

(1976, $13,193,000, Pos. 393; 1977, $14,480,000, Pos. 425)

Narrative Description of Program

The Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management is responsible for planning, managing, and evaluating administrative support operations and for providing centralized support services for all Departmental Agencies. The full range of administrative support services for Departmental activities include equal employment opportunity, personnel management, financial management, organization and management review, audit of Departmental program funds granted to States and local governments, administrative services, and data automation services.

In 1975, the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (OEEO) was instrumental in providing the guidance and management emphasis that resulted in the establishment of a full-time EEO officer in each region, to carry out the provisions of the Departmental-EEO program. These regional EEO officers prepare regional affirmative action plans and quarterly reviews, monitor the Federal Women's Program (FWP) through a regional FWP coordinator or chairperson, monitor the Spanish Speaking Program (SSP) through a regional SSP coordinator or chairperson and perform other related EEO functions. In addition, a full-time Departmental Spanish Speaking Program Coordinator was also appointed.

The Directorate of Personnel Management designed a personnel management evaluation system to assess the effectiveness of Departmental practices. This was designated a Secretarial Objective and a full-time manager was assigned. Manual personnel processing activities were studied and preliminary steps were taken to automate various functions. The Director conducted an evaluation of health services in the regions. A summer employment program was conducted for students and young people including the disadvantaged. There were 646 participants in this program in FY 1975 nationwide, including 382 disadvantaged.

The Comptroller participated in an Interdepartmental effort to develop government-wide requirements for grants including grants administration, reporting, reconciliation, and joint financial management of grants as provided in the Joint Funding Act of 1974. The Regional Accounting Project (RAP), to decentralize Departmental Accounting, was completed in three of ten Regions. The program review function was restructured to provide a stronger interface between program planning, budget formulation and execution. The Management by Objective (MBO) system tracked 51 objectives (9 Presidential, 16 Secretarial, and 26 Agency) during the year. Manpower Utilization Surveys were completed in most of the functions of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management. Major technical assistance and training in developing workload standards was provided to the Employment and Training Administration. Considerable progress was also made on the development of a Department-wide automated staffing document.

The Directorate of Audit and Investigations (DAI) developed and issued guides and procedures for use in auditing Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) funds. It initiated an integrated audit effort, in cooperation with State and local agencies, to conduct coordinated audits of CETA funds. Audits of Employment and Training funds were substantially completed. DAI, in 1975, audited $3.9 billion in Federal funds, questioning $66 million in costs. Indirect cost rates totaling 450 were negotiated resulting in savings of $1.3 million in Departmental, and $2.2 million in U.S. Government funds.

The Directorate of Administrative Programs and Services coordinated the move of DOL units from 14 sites in the Metropolitan District of Columbia area to four including the new Department of Labor Building. Closed circuit TV cameras were installed for security surveillance in the new building.

In 1976, the new Departmental Upward Mobility Program guidelines are scheduled for issuance early in calendar year 1976. The Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and the Directorate of Personnel Management will work closely with the Agencies and Regions in order to provide the necessary planning, programming and procedural guidance and technical assistance required. Monitoring of the EEO portion of the upward mobility program, including overall progress remains with the Departmental EEO Office. A separate EEO Investigative Unit has been established in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management to provide more timely and effective disposition of cases. This unit will employ full-time EEO investigators and will be activated in the third quarter, FY 1976. In addition, the Department is presently considering various proposals aimed at further shortening the time required to handle EEO complaints.

The Directorate of Personnel Management, designed a Departmental Upward Mobility Program to provide specific career opportunities to lower grade employees. This program is scheduled for issuance about January of 1976. Career development emphasis will be placed on preparing administrative, clerical and technical (ACT) employees in grades GS-1 through GS-11 for competitive promotion. An affirmative action plan for the employment of disabled veterans has been designed and implemented in addition to the development of an employee performance evaluation plan. Health screening programs and surveys of regional health services were conducted within the Department in 1976. Also, guidelines were developed for implementing the Privacy Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and leave restoration legislation. Some of the projects planned are expansion of the ACT Career Development Program, implementation of flexi-time pilot programs, and development of a wide range of training programs, seminars, and courses.

The Comptroller now has the responsibility for the Departmental implementation of new OMB, GSA, and Treasury procedures for grants administration, reporting and joint funding. Fifty-three program objectives were developed for. inclusion in the MBO system in FY 1976 (5 Presidential, 24 Secretarial, and 24 Agency). Management Utilization studies are being conducted in the Comptroller's Office to complete the review of the functions of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management and will also be conducted in the Employment Standards Administration workers' compensation area during FY 1976. The Regional Accounting Project (RAP) will have been completely installed and will provide for decentralized accounting in all 10 regions by March of 1976.

The Office of Grants, Procurement and ADP Management Policy was established. Its initial efforts are being directed toward the publication of uniform Departmental policies in the grants, procurement and ADP areas, and toward an integrated plan to improve procurement and data processing systems.

In the Directorate of Audit and Investigation's audit program, progress continues toward full implementation of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) integrated audit effort. Audits of CETA prime sponsors, which were initiated in FY 1975, will be conducted more extensively in FY 1976. Internal special impact audits will be conducted in several areas. In the Cost Determination area, primary effort will be directed toward negotiating indirect cost rates with CETA prime sponsors and other Departmental contractors or grantees. The Office of Investigations will initiate reviews of agency employee integrity programs in 1976 and will require annual reviews of employee integrity programs established by agencies within the Department. The Directorate of Audit and Investigations includes the support activity of the ADP Evaluation Staff. One of the prime functions of this unit will be the review of ADP systems, facilities and performance within DOL and for Departmental contractors and grantees. The Directorate of Audit and Investigations will audit approximately 289 CETA prime sponsors, 17 State Employment Security Agencies and 20 State Occupational Safety and Health programs. The number of cost rate determination negotiations should be about the same as FY 1975 (450).

The Directorate of Administrative Programs and Services has completed the consolidation of D.C. area employees into four (rather than 14) locations. Office space for the new Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has been procured. Pilot tests are being conducted in the Denver Region for decentralization of the Departmental Property Management System. The Library is continuing to develop into a multi-media research center.

In 1977, the new Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (OEEO) guidelines will require that all Affirmative Action Plans for FY 1977 have detailed percentage and recruitment goals and timetables. The goals and timetables will focus on the under-representation of minorities and women in particular occupational series. New EEO printouts will enable more precise analysis of all job series. The plans will also incorporate detailed upward mobility goals and timetables. The Spanish Speaking Program will be involved in at least three programs--essentially of a cooperative work nature--aimed at hiring Spanish Speaking persons for entry level professional positions.

The Directorate of Personnel Management will oversee the full implementation of the Upward Mobility Program as one means of assisting lower graded employees to advance to higher levels and achieve their career goals. A new management intern program will be developed to select highly qualified persons for entry level professional positions and to provide systematic training enabling them to assume the full range of management level duties and responsibilities. Additional procedures, systems, and guidelines will be developed to fully implement provisions of the Privacy Act. The merit staffing plan will be revised to reflect agreements reached with labor unions. A procedure for the examination and appointment of attorneys will be designed. Full implementation of the personnel aspects of the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime provisions as they affect Federal employees will be achieved. Education and Career Development programs ranging from clerical to senior executive training will be designed to meet DOL needs.

The Comptroller will continue to provide assistance and direction to agencies and regions to improve accounting systems, planning for operating budget levels and utilization of accounting reports. Principles of the Management by Objectives system will be expanded to additional program activities such as the development of legislative proposals. The Comptroller will revise the accounting function to produce more efficient work-flow and to refine regional accounting operations. The budget process will continue to expand to respond to the provisions of the Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Plans for Manpower Utilization reviews for FY 1977 have not been finalized, however, they will follow the Department's goal of surveying each agency every four years.

The Directorate of Audit and Investigations (DAI) will continue to devote considerable attention to audit coverage of CETA. It is anticipated that DDA will be assisted in this audit activity by State and local audit agencies as a result of FY 1976 negotiations. The Division of Cost Determination's principal activity will continue to be the negotiation of indirect cost rates for CETA prime sponsors. The Office of Investigations anticipates a heavier workload resulting from the newly implemented required annual review of agency employee integrity programs. The ADP Evaluation Staff will continue to review ADP systems, facilities and performance of the Department and of Departmental contractors and grantees. DAI will audit an estimated 299 CETA prime sponsors, 17 State Employee Security Agencies, and 20 State Occupational Safety and Health programs. Cost-rate determination negotiations should be about the same level as FY 1975 and 1976 (450).

The Directorate of Administrative Programs and Services plans to decentralize the property management system and expand the library automation to include systems such as acquisition, circulation, and information retrieval.

Mandatory changes include $44,000 for net additional cost of within grade promotions effective part year in FY 1976; $50,000 for net additional cost of within grade promotions becoming effective in 1977; $166,000 for annualization of pay increase effective October 12, 1975; $20,000 for net increased cost of administrative and program support services; $32,000 for net increased cost in contributions to the Federal Employees' Compensation Fund; $729,000 for net additional cost of standard level user charges reimbursed to GSA, and -$36,000 for one less day of pay in 1977, and $162,000 for annualization of new positions received in FY 1976.

Financing changes include an increase of 32 positions in Administration and Management from the Departmental Working Capital Fund for ADP support functions. This is a technical adjustment between accounts within the Department and does not represent added staff to the Department. Related dollars will be transferred to Departmental Management from respective Agency Working Capital Fund contributions.

Program changes include $120,000 for increased cost of travel allowances authorized by Public Law 94-22.

Additional Travel Payment Allowances Authorized by Public Law 94-22

Proposal: To provide for additional travel costs due to increased rates for mileage and per diem allowances as authorized under Public Law 94-22, Travel Expense Amendments Act of 1975.

The Need: To maintain travel at the same level as planned in 1976 which will enable continuation of travel at the current operating level for auditors traveling extensively to perform their on-site work, essential auditor training, administrative staff and technical assistance, and minimal essential conferences and training.

The Program: Public Law 94-22 was enacted May 19, 1975, providing for increased allowances in mileage and per diem and established special rates for selected high cost cities. This request represents only an increase in the cost of travel. It does not increase the amount of travel.