Purpose

a. NASA's Competitive Placement Plan

(1) This NPR provides the procedures and requirements of NASA's Competitive Placement Plan. This NPR shall be used in conjunction with the statutory and regulatory requirements referenced herein.

(2) Center's Human Resources Offices shall be consulted for further information and guidance.

(3) NASA's Competitive Placement Plan establishes minimum Agency procedures for filling positions, except positions in the Office of the Inspector General, with current or former Federal employees with competitive status at and below the General Schedule (GS)-15 level (including trades and labor positions) through competition and on the basis of merit. It also covers term employees with conversion eligibility as authorized in 5 U.S.C. § 9806 (the NASA Flexibility Act of 2004).

(4) Selections shall be made without regard to political, religious, or labor organization affiliation or nonaffiliation; marital status; race; color; sex; national origin; nondisqualifying disability; age; sexual orientation; gender identity; genetic information; or status as a parent.

(5) This plan does not guarantee promotion, but rather ensures that all qualified candidates receive fair and equitable opportunity for positions filled under these competitive procedures.

(6) Announcing a vacancy under this plan is only one method of locating applicants for a position. This method may also be used in conjunction with other methods (e.g., delegated examining, non-competitive appointing authorities). Subject to applicable laws and regulations, selection of an individual to fill a position is the decision of management, as is the decision regarding the method(s) to be used in identifying candidates.

b. The Upward Mobility Program

(1) In addition to the Competitive Placement Plan and various training programs, a formal Upward Mobility Program shall be maintained.

(2) Within budget and personnel ceiling limitations, upward mobility positions shall be established to offer specific career opportunities to lower-level employees (GS-9 and below or equivalent).

(3) The Upward Mobility Program shall be used to enhance NASA's ability to meet its Model Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Agency goals and to help eliminate underrepresentation in targeted positions.

(4) Selections shall be made without regard to political, religious, or labor organization affiliation or nonaffiliation; marital status; race; color; sex; national origin; nondisqualifying disability; age; sexual orientation; gender identity; genetic information; or status as a parent.

Applicability

a. This NPR is applicable to NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers, including Component Facilities and Technical and Service Support Centers. Unless otherwise indicated, the word Center(s) in this NPR includes NASA Headquarters, and any reference to Center Director(s) includes the Executive Director, Headquarters Operations and the Executive Director of the NASA Shared Services Center.

b. Negotiated collective bargaining agreements that contain procedures that differ from the provisions of this plan remain in effect until renegotiated, except where such agreements are specifically superseded by applicable laws or regulations.

c. This NPR does not apply to the Office of the Inspector General.