IG: Non-federal staff should not be involved with annual performance ratings, engaging in performance-based or adverse action procedures, and rewarding employees. Image: JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffAn inspector general report has found that non-federal employees at the NSF with supervisory roles over agency employees have exceeded the limits on those roles.
The report focused on the use of temporary, non-federal staff brought in through programs such as the Intergovernmental Personnel Act and a visiting scientist, engineer and educator program who are brought in to “bring fresh perspectives from all fields of science and engineering to support NSF’s mission.”
As of last October, they accounted for almost 10 percent of all supervisors at NSF and were on such temporary assignments and four-tenths of NSF employees reported to them directly or from farther down the chain of command, it said.
However, it said that the agency’s policies regarding their roles “do not comply with federal guidance related to non-federal employees’ performance of supervisory duties and functions.” That included involvement in “conducting an employee’s annual performance rating, engaging in performance-based or adverse action procedures, and rewarding employees,” it said.
OPM specifically prohibited such activities 2022 guidance it issued after a GAO report said that lack of clarity on the allowable roles created a risk of conflicts of interest. That guidance said that such roles should be limited to program management activities such as assigning work and establishing milestones and completion dates.
The IG said that while the NSF is “working on a plan to comply” with the OPM policy, it “has not yet resolved instances” where restrictions have been exceeded. It said the NSF agreed with recommendations to resolve such instances and ensure that the restrictions are followed in the future.
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