Federal Manager's Daily Report

OPM has told agencies to submit requests by December 30 for allocations of SES, senior level and senior scientific and technical positions for fiscal years 2018 and 2019.

“In light of the upcoming change in Presidential administration, OPM expects agencies will limit requests for changes to their executive allocations to support the prerogative of incoming agency heads to have the opportunity to determine mission priorities and workforce planning decisions. Therefore, OPM will primarily give consideration to requests based upon new or changed legislation, unforeseen exigent needs, and those submitted by agency heads whose appointments will continue across the change in administration,” a memo said.

“At this time, justifications based on reorganizations or ongoing initiatives (including mission expansion) are strongly discouraged from being submitted, and agencies should refrain from requesting additional allocations for positions that will report directly to an agency head who has not yet been appointed. We understand this may result in the need for agencies to submit out-of-cycle allocation requests upon appointment of new agency heads,” it adds.

Due to the transition, OPM extended the due date for detailed justifications until May 2.

The memo also included technical guidance, including that agencies should specifically identify the positions and the basis for determining they are needed; specific results expected from any additional positions requested and the funding source to support them; the numbers of vacant positions and the period they remain vacant; and more.