Highest Previous Rate in Basic Pay Setting

Purpose

This Order is updated to apply the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (“DEI”) requirements of the new Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM’s) final rule, dated January 30, 2024 (89 FR 5737 - 5757), Advancing Pay Equity in Governmentwide Pay Systems, as well as Presidential Executive Order 14035, Executive Order on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce (June 25, 2021).

Background

This Order incorporates current civil service regulatory principles governing basic pay setting pursuant to Workforce Flexibility Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-411), as modified by the Presidential Executive Order 14035, Executive Order on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce (June 25, 2021) and the OPM final rule of January 30, 2024 (89 FR 5737 - 5757), Advancing Pay Equity in Governmentwide Pay Systems.

Scope and Applicability

The provisions of this policy apply to organizations and employees of GSA in both the Title 5 competitive and excepted services in positions classified and paid under the General Schedule (i.e., Subchapter III of 5 U.S.C. Chapter 53).

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.

Cancellation

This Order cancels the prior version of this Order, Maximum Payable Rate Rule in Basic Pay Setting, dated May 17, 2023.

Nature of Revision

This Order is updated to apply the requirements of OPM’s DEI final rule, dated January 30, 2024 (89 FR 5737 - 5757), Advancing Pay Equity in Governmentwide Pay Systems, as well as Presidential Executive Order 14035, Executive Order on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce (June 25, 2021).