OPM has put out a call for nominations for the fiscal 2017 Presidential Rank Awards, telling agencies that “this is an excellent opportunity to identify the individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to your agency’s effectiveness on a sustained basis.”
There are two types of rank awards: the meritorious executive award, worth 20 percent of the executive’s base pay, can be given to 5 percent of SES members; the distinguished executive award, worth 35 percent of base pay, can be given to only 1 percent.
OPM cautioned that “agency heads should consider the current challenging fiscal conditions and resources needed to meet overall agency mission priorities in determining the number of nominations to submit. Nominees must meet stringent personal and professional standards, and are therefore subject to an extremely rigorous review and vetting process.”
“When considering potential nominees, agencies must exercise due diligence in reviewing both the background of nominees including any issues relating to personal and professional conduct, such as past misconduct or disciplinary actions, timely payment of federal taxes, findings of discrimination or misconduct relevant to equal employment opportunity, office of inspector general (or their equivalent), and evidence of as yet unadjudicated misconduct in relation to office of inspector general (or their equivalent) records, as well as the programs and organizational components for which the nominees have any responsibility,” it added.
Nominations are due by January 17.