OPM has sent agencies guidance on carrying out several Obama administration memos providing for noncompetitive appointment in the competitive service for certain participants in the State Department Student Scholarship Programs and certain employees of the Foreign Service.
The orders provide alumni of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, and the Critical Language Scholarship Program; and certain employees of the Foreign Service with noncompetitive appointment eligibility into the competitive service under certain conditions, OPM said.
Agencies are to use these authorities in the same manner as other noncompetitive hiring authorities, it says, including public notice requirements and compliance with placement assistance programs for employees displaced by downsizing or declared surplus, it says.
“In addition, agencies must apply OPM-approved or government-wide qualification standards when filling positions under these authorities. The intended effect of these EOs is to achieve a workforce that is drawn from all segments of society into the competitive service,” OPM said, adding that it will update its regulations to reflect the authorities.
