Direct Hire Authority

Purpose

This Order provides guidance for the General Services Administration (GSA) to use direct hire authority (DHA) to recruit and appoint candidates for which the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has determined there is a government-wide severe shortage of candidates or critical hiring need. This Order also provides guidance for any agency-specific DHA approved by OPM.    

Background

A DHA is a hiring authority that the OPM can grant to Federal agencies for filling vacancies in specific occupations, grade levels, and locations when it can be proven that there is a critical hiring need or a severe shortage of candidates. DHAs expedite the hiring process by eliminating veterans’ preference, rating and ranking, as well as the typical selection procedures and without regard to 5 U.S.C. 3309-3318, 5 CFR part 211, or 5 CFR part 337, subpart A.

Scope and Applicability

1. This Order applies to all appointments made using the government-wide DHAs or  any agency-specific DHAs approved by OPM for certain identified series, grades, occupations, and position titles in the competitive service. 
2. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has independent personnel authority. See Section 6 of the Inspector General Act of 1978, (5 U.S.C. App.3), as amended (Inspector General is authorized “to select, appoint, and employ such officers and employees as may be necessary for carrying out the functions, powers, and duties of the Office of Inspector General”) and GSA Order ADM 5450.39D CHGE 1, GSA Delegations of Authority Manual (Delegations Manual), Chapter 2, Part 1 (“the Inspector General has independent authority to formulate policies and make determinations concerning human capital issues within the [OIG]” and GSA determinations/delegations do not limit that authority). Similarly, GSA specifically recognizes that the Inspector General has independent authority to formulate policies and make determinations concerning training, employee development, and career management.
3. This Order applies to the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) to the extent that the CBCA determines it is consistent with the CBCA’s independent authority under the Contract Disputes Act and it does not conflict with other CBCA policies or the CBCA mission.
4. This Order cannot be used to fill Senior Level (SL) or Senior Executive Service (SES) positions.

Cancellation

This directive supersedes HRM 9332.1B, Direct Hire Authority for IT Positions, dated April 11, 2023 and HRM 9332.2B, Direct Hire Authority for STEM Occupations, dated April 11, 2023.