370.334.1 – Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Mobility Program
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DATE: 9/26/12
OPR: Office of Human Resources
Instruction: This replaces the following Survey Manual (SM) chapters dated March 4, 1991: 370.334.1, Intergovernmental Assignments – General Provisions; 370.334.2, Intergovernmental Assignments – Assignment Agreements; 370.334.3, Intergovernmental Assignment of Federal Employees to a State or Local Government; and 370.334.4, Intergovernmental Assignment of Employees from a State or Local Government.
1. Purpose. This chapter provides supplemental guidance to Title 5 U.S. Code Sections 3371 through 3375 and 5 Code of Federal Regulations Part 334 on the assignment of employees between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and eligible non-Federal organizations.
2. Policy. It is USGS policy to make it feasible and convenient to assign skilled employees for short periods of time when a real need exists and it serves sound public policy. The assignment must be of mutual benefit to the USGS and the non-Federal organization. Assignments arranged to meet the personal interests of employees, to circumvent personnel ceilings, or to avoid unpleasant personnel decisions are contrary to the spirit and intent of the IPA Mobility Program.
3. Authority. Title 5 of the U.S. Code, sections 3371 through 3375 authorizes the temporary assignment of personnel, without loss of employee rights and benefits, between the Federal Government and State or local governments, institutions of higher education, Indian tribal governments, and other eligible organizations.
4. Responsibilities.
A. Employing Office. The employing office is responsible for preparing the draft Assignment Agreement and submitting it to the appropriate points of contact in the Office of Human Resources (OHR) and Ethics Office (EO) for review and concurrence; obtaining the appropriate approvals; providing a copy of the final agreement to the OHR and EO for their records; initiating a personnel action when applicable and forwarding it to the OHR for processing; and for ensuring that the fiscal obligations outlined in the Assignment Agreement are followed.
B. Office of Human Resources. The Office of Human Resources IPA Coordinator provides assistance in executing IPA agreements; reviews all agreements for accuracy and compliance with the Act; provides concurrence to the employing office once the agreement meets all requirements; and provides information requested by the Office of Personnel Management for IPA assignment data calls.
C. Ethics Office. Ethics Office concurrence with the agreement is required to ensure compliance with Federal, Departmental, and USGS ethics statutes, regulations, rules and policies. The Ethics Office notifies incoming IPA assignees of the requirement that they must file financial disclosure reports and receive initial orientation and annual ethics training.
5. Approving Official. Approval of all IPA mobility assignments is delegated to Office Chiefs reporting to the USGS Director or Deputy Director for Administration and Policy; and managers/supervisors that report directly to an Associate Director or Regional Executive.
6. Procedures. Information specific to executing an IPA assignment including the USGS process for establishing an assignment and points of contact, as well as the Optional Form 69 Assignment Agreement are accessible at [internal site].
//s// Diane K. Wade September 26, 2012
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Diane K. Wade Date
Associate Director for Administration and Enterprise
Information and Acting Associate Director for Human Capital