Delegated Examining Policy

1. Purpose.

The purpose of this order is to establish a Delegated Examining (DE) policy for the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM) and procedural guidance for designated staff assigned to conduct DE operations as authorized by the Interagency Delegated Examining Agreement, GSA-1, between the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and GSA. This policy should be used in conjunction with the OPM's Delegated Examining Operations Handbook (DEOH) and the references listed in this Order. When provisions of this policy differ from changes in applicable law or regulation, the changes in law or regulation apply.

2. Background.

Under Title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.) 1104(a)(2), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) delegated to the GSA the authority to conduct full delegated examining for Title 5 competitive service positions for all series and grade levels nationwide, except for Administrative Law Judges. Specifically, GSA is authorized to fill competitive civil service positions with applicants from outside of the Federal workforce who are not otherwise preference eligible or possess competitive service status. This policy supplements OPM’s Delegated Examining Operations Handbook (DEOH), which provides detailed guidance for conducting competitive examining activities. 

3. Scope and Applicability.

This order applies to all GSA Human Resources practitioners and contractors performing delegated examining work. Delegated examining covers competitive examinations for positions in the competitive service, except for administrative law judge positions. It allows for competitive civil service jobs to be filled through a competitive process open to all U.S. citizens, including current Federal employees.

     a. 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 GSAdeterminations/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.

     b. This Order applies to 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. Cancellation.

This Order cancels and supersedes the following Instructional Letters:  ADM IL-22-03, Delegated Examining Certification, October 7, 2022, and HRM IL-22-04, Accepting and Processing Applications for Delegated Examining, December 30, 2022.