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By: FEDweek StaffOPM has proposed rules to pave the way for more use of “direct hire” authority in IT positions by delegating to agencies the right to determine whether there is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need sufficient to justify use of the authority–and if so, to begin using the authority–without the need for OPM’s approval.
“The intended effect of this change is to enhance the government’s ability to recruit needed IT professionals,” OPM said in a Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period.
“The current rules do not provide for a delegation of authority in relation to direct hire authorities; only OPM may make these determinations,” OPM said. When determining the existence of a severe shortage of qualified candidates or the presence of a presence of a critical hiring need, agencies would need to meet certain standards in regulations and on OPM’s direct hire template, it added. Agencies would have to keep the justification on hand for documentation and auditing purposes.
OPM said the notice helps further the policies in an executive order issued in May aimed at modernizing the government’s IT infrastructure and improving the delivery of digital services and the management, acquisition, and oversight of IT.
It said that while the executive order allowed for a situation in which agencies would make the determination but OPM still would control the actual grant of authority, “OPM is choosing to delegate to agency heads” the final approval. The personnel agency will continue to monitor its use, however.
Certain special policies would apply to DoD and to the VA because several provisions of law applying only to them already give them greater leeway to use direct hire authority.
