Next Meeting: February 2, 2006 - 12:30-2:30 p.m. - Bldg 10, Conference Room 2C116

 

Attendees	Substitutes
Affeldt, Mary, NIDA
Bortner, Donald, NIA	Deborah McGovern, Ralph Lopez
Bullman, Laurie, ORS
Burrell, Eve, NICHD
Childers, Olive, OD/OIR
Domanski, Jeff, NINDS
Ferreira, Ana, NINR
Fonrose, Nadine, OD/OIR
Grosman, Gail, NIGMS	Crystal James
Harrelson, Susan, NIDDK
Klein, Pamela, NIMH
Le, Truc, NINDS
Lee, Darlene, NEI
Mancuso, Joan, NIAMS	Valerie Green
Perry, Katy, NIAID	Patricia Scullion
Sandler, Brenda, NIAAA
Siegel, Donna, NCI
Simmonds-Barnes, Denise, NCCAM
Strickland, Marlyn, CIT
Tosten, Tim, NIMH
Unger, Gary, NHLBI	Broadmax, Ina

 Minutes: Prepared by Francie Kitzmiller, NIDDK

Closed Session (12:30 - 2:30)

1. Hot Issues in Human Resources - Richie Tafft

EHRP is going down Friday and won't come back up until the next Thursday, to get the pay adjustments done. If you have actions, please be sure to get them in by tomorrow.

a. Update on Hiring Controls

After Thanksgiving, hiring controls were put into effect. Some positions were given categorical exemptions such as patient care, temporary fellow appointments, etc. A period of exemption was given for 45 days from the Department, to hire individuals as categorical exceptions.
The Hiring Plan is due to HR for the department for review. Exemptions will be required after the above timeframe in order to hire individuals.

b. IC Director/NIH Deputy Director Compensation Model

Richie explained how the pay model came about. It starts with a base pay for being in that position, then consideration is given for what the incumbent brings to the job. He then proceeded to provide the details about that which you can refer to in the handout. He informed us that letters were given to IC Directors last Friday, outlining what their pay is and how their particular pay adjustment will occur.

2. Hot Issues in Procurement - Bob Best (Laurie Weker)

a. Purchase Card changes now that DHHS has said contractors can hold PCards

A letter from the DHHS authorized contractors to have PCards. However, NIH, working with the DHHS, is reviewing this to see how this affects our way of business. NIH's understanding of this approval was really for the cost reimbursement contracts and not overall procurement. As soon as Laurie Weker hears something from the DHHS, she will contact Susan. At this point, allowing contractors to have PCards is tabled.

b. Limitation on Delegated Buying Authority proposal

There is a proposal out right now to change Micro purchases to $3000. In addition, the Office of Acquisition Management and Policy is recommending a limit be set on the Delegated Buying Authority such that a DELPRO official can order or approve only up to $500,000 against a Maximum Order Limit on a BPA. The intent of this memo is not to shut down NIH or to inhibit the mission of NIH but to do delegated buying in a controlled fashion. With the changes in the BPA limits, NIH has not kept up with the oversight. Laurie went into the history of the Micro purchases and how this got to the DRAFT point right now.

c. NBS Business Owner Solicitation of NIH AO Advice on Responsibilities for creation and approval of requisitions and Awards in NBS

David went through the handout in detail. Please refer to the handout. Susan will be sending out a request for input on what was discussed and will be asking for a short turn around time. In essence, the request had to do with whether or not we would a recommend self approval of requisitions and approval in the new NBS system.

3. Around the Room

 Handouts:

 New format for requesting exceptions from the DHHS hiring controls

 IC Director/NIH Deputy Director Compensation Model - Office of Human Resources, December 2005

 Draft memo from the Deputy Director for Management, NIH, subject: Limitation on Delegated Buying Authority

 Business Rules, Current Approaches & Possible Consequences - NBS Hierarchies

NBS Business Owner Solicitation of NIH Administrative Officer Advice on Responsibilities for Creation and Approval of Requisitions and Awards in the NBS.