OPM director John Berry clarified for the panel that OPM has a full implementation plan that includes deploying "mobile assistance teams" composed of individuals from OPM and other agencies with expertise in recruiting, staffing, and other relevant areas of HR management to support agencies in carrying out the reforms.
There will be a website including guidance and training materials to help agencies meet requirements in the memo, and OPM will be offering brief training sessions and more comprehensive seminars for HR professionals and line managers.
OPM also is developing a goal-focused, data-driven system to hold agencies accountable for improving the quality and speed of the hiring process as well as meeting merit principles and veterans preference requirements.
The Senate meanwhile has passed legislation that would codify many of the reforms spelled out in the memo. Sponsored by Sens. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, and George Voinovich, R-Ohio, S-736 includes a "plain writing" requirement for job announcements, would abolish the use of knowledge, skills and abilities statements, would establish a central resume database, and require agencies to periodically update applicants on the status of their applications.