Article 14
Performance Awards
History

Section 1. Purpose

The parties have agreed to establish a performance awards program in accordance with 5 CFR 430, Subpart E. Other awards programs currently in effect at the Department, such as superior accomplishment awards, will continue under separate rules and regulations.

Section 2. Rating of Record
The awards under this Article shall be based upon the employee's current rating of record.

Section 3. Pay Deciding Unit (PDU)

a. A pay deciding unit (PDU) is defined as a unit of bargaining unit employees under a single Pay Deciding Official unless the parties agree otherwise. The designation of PDU's will be determined within ninety (90) days of implementation of this Agreement. All employees within a PDU shall receive their appraisals on the same fixed rating date. A PDU shall be an Agency or sub-unit within an Agency.
b. The title of the Pay Deciding Official (PDO) must appear on the cover of each Performance Plan. Employees will be informed of the name of this official at the beginning of the annual appraisal period.

Section 4. Awards Budget

Local 12 will be notified of the amount of money in the awards budget for a PDU thirty (30) days prior to the issuance of awards in that PDU. To the extent practical, Management will fully utilize the awards budget to reward deserving employee performance.

Section 5. Effect of a Summary Rating

a. An employee who receives a rating of record of Outstanding must receive a performance award and/or Quality Step Increase (QSI) unless the employee was promoted within the appraisal year.
b. An employee who receives a rating of record of Highly Effective should normally receive a performance award.
c. An employee who receives a rating of record of Fully Successful should be considered for and may receive a performance award.
d. Where it is not possible to provide an employee a rating of record prior to making the awards, the employee shall receive an award (if appropriate) at the time the employee receives the rating of record.
e. Employees within a PDU at the same grade level who receive equivalent ratings of record can expect to receive similar awards unless an employee was promoted within the appraisal year or unless distinctions can be made in their performance based upon the number or percentage of critical elements rated "exceeds," interim summary ratings taken into consideration in the rating of record, or the length of time of the appraisal period.

Section 6. Awards

Performance awards shall be as follows:
Outstanding rating ---------- $500 to $2,000
Highly Effective rating ----- $400 to $1,500
Fully Successful rating ----- $300 to $1,000

Section 7. Date of Awards

The parties agree, that to the extent practicable, performance awards shall be presented within sixty (60) days of receipt of the rating of record, but in no event will they be presented later than the end of the fiscal year.

Section 8. Information Provided to Local 12

The award decisions for each PDU shall be reported to the Union within thirty (30) days of receipt of the awards. This information shall include the grade, series, rating of record, and award received, if any, for each employee in the PDU.