Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

1.  Purpose

The purpose of this revision is to update the Civil Rights Handbook to include GSA’s updated civil rights policy statements and orders and to outline the internal and external civil rights programs managed by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR).

2.  Background

The handbook is reviewed and revised periodically by the Associate Administrator (AA) for OCR. It is updated to reflect changes to applicable civil rights and equal employment opportunity (EEO) policy statements, orders, laws, regulations, and executive orders. It is further updated to reflect adjustments made to the management or implementation of the civil rights and EEO programs for GSA.

3. Responsibility

The AA is responsible for the leadership and execution of all program areas of OCR, including the issuance of the GSA Civil Rights Handbook. See GSA Delegations of Authority Manual 5450.39D ADM CHGE 1, Chapter 15 1(a). All GSA employees are responsible for abiding by this policy and fully cooperating in any investigations of allegations of discrimination under the laws, regulations, executive orders, and policies discussed herein.

4. Scope and Applicability

The provisions of this Manual related to EEO apply to all GSA employees, former employees, applicants for employment unless otherwise indicated and subject to the following exceptions:

1. The Office of the Inspector General.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has independent personnel authority. See GSA Order ADM P 5450.39D 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; and

3. The Civilian Board of Contract Appeals.

This policy applies to personnel of the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) only 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. External Civil Rights Programs. 

The provisions of this Manual related to OCR’s external civil rights programs apply to all participants of those programs, including organizations receiving federal financial assistance through GSA.