Although less commonly used, special hiring authorities also are available for agencies in emergency situations, OPM said. These include:
An agency may make 30-day appointments in the excepted service to fill a critical hiring need. An agency may extend these appointments for an additional 30 days. This authority may be used to fill senior level positions as well as positions at lower grades.
An agency may use direct hire authority for positions including medical officers, nurses, information technology management, acquisition and certain other occupations.
An agency may bring back retirees without applying the dual compensation salary offset for appointments of up to a year, with limits on how many hours they can work, and with OPM approval can make even greater use of rehired annuitants.
An agency also can make temporary appointments of up to 120 days, limited-term SES appointments and can use private sector temporary employment firms.
Similar emergency guidance was last issued in 2013.
