**-APPENDIX D-**

OFFICIAL OFFER LETTER

Date

Name

Street Address

City, ST Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms.

I am pleased to notify you of your tentative selection for a position in
the (name of agency). This offer is contingent upon the favorable
adjudication of a Special Agreement Check (SAC). Retention in the
position is contingent upon favorable adjudication of background
investigation/security checks.

> **Position:**
>
> **Grade and Salary:**
>
> **Location:**
>
> **Effective Date:** Upon favorable adjudication of your SAC, you will
> be provided an official start date
>
> **Type of Appointment:**

After your SAC has been favorably adjudicated and an official start date
has been established, you will report at (time) to (contact) at
(address), for orientation and completion of appropriate forms.
(contact) can be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxx. Your appointment confers
retirement coverage, and you will have the opportunity to enroll in the
Federal Employees Health Benefits and Group Life Insurance programs.
Detailed information concerning your Federal employment benefits may be
found at <http://opm.gov/insure/health/new_employees.asp> and
<http://www.opm.gov/fers_election/ri_90/f_toc.htm>.

**(DELETE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS THAT DO NOT APPLY):**

**(NON SY POSITIONS)** As a new permanent employee, you will be subject
to a one year probationary/trial period beginning \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

**(SY POSITIONS)** As a new permanent employee, you will be subject to a
three year probationary period beginning \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ and ending
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. **(If appropriate include)** The starting date of your
probationary period is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ because your previous service as a
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ from \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ met a
portion of the probationary period requirement.

**(NON SY OR SY POSITIONS if the probationary requirements have been
fully met)** Based on your previous assignment as a
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ from \_\_\_\_\_\_ to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_, your
one/three year probationary period has been completed.

[]{.mark}

**(OPTIONAL)** A recruitment incentive has been authorized for you in
the amount of **(ENTER AMOUNT).** All applicable Federal and State taxes
will be deducted from this amount. In order to process the incentive,
the enclosed service agreement must be signed, dated, and returned in
the envelope addressed to me.

**(OPTIONAL)** Information regarding travel allowances will be provided
by \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ of the (enter Area Office, City, ST,
Telephone #). You are considered a (select one of the following and
delete others: New Appointee, DEMO New Appointee, or Transferee)
pursuant to the travel regulations. Do not incur any travel expenses
prior to contact with that office.

The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 requires that most Federal
payments be made by electronic funds transfer (EFT). **Please complete
and bring either Form SF-1199A or FMS-2231 with your account or
financial institution information when you report for duty.** (NOTE:
Exceptions to this law can be based on hardship. Specifically, waivers
for individuals are available if receiving your payment electronically
would cause a financial hardship or a hardship because you have a
physical or mental disability, or because of geographic, language or a
literacy barrier.) These forms can be found electronically at
<http://fms.treas.gov/forms.html>.

**If position is subject to financial disclosure requirements, include
this paragraph and cc the REE Ethics Staff with a copy of the position
description.**

**(OPTIONAL- CODE 4 CONFIDENTIAL FILERS)**

Your position meets criteria defined at 5 CFR § 2634.904, and in order
to avoid possible  conflict-of-interest situations, you will be required
to submit an initial and annual OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial
Disclosure Report.  You must complete the attached OGE Form 450 within
30 days of your effective date and return the form to the REE Ethics
Office, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Room 3-1168, Beltsville, MD 20705-5102. 
The form can also be downloaded at: 
[[http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/hrd/ethics/ethicsforms.htm]{.underline}](http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/hrd/ethics/ethicsforms.htm)

Within 90 days from the effective date of this appointment, you must
complete an initial ethics orientation.  With supervisory approval, you
are entitled to one hour of official duty time to complete a computer
based training module, "New Employee Ethics Orientation."  This module
is available for your review at: 
[[http://www.usda-ethics.net/training]{.underline}](http://www.usda-ethics.net/training). 
You will be directed to a secure site that will record your completion
of this module.  By nature of this appointment, you will be required to
complete annual ethics training.  If you have any questions regarding
completion of the financial disclosure report or training requirements,
please contact the REE Ethics Office on 301-504-1467.  Any possible
conflict of interest should be resolved prior to your appointment.

**(OPTIONAL---CODE 3 PUBLIC FILERS)** Your position meets criteria
defined at 5 CFR § 2634.202, and in order to avoid
possible conflict-of-interest situations, you will be required to submit
an initial, annual and termination SF-278, Executive Branch Public
Financial Disclosure Report.  You must complete the attached SF-278
within 30 days of your effective date and return the form to the USDA
Office of Ethics, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 347-W,
Washington, DC 20250.  The form can also be downloaded at: 
[[http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/hrd/ethics/ethicsforms.htm]{.underline}](http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/hrd/ethics/ethicsforms.htm)

Within 90 days from the effective date of this appointment, you must
complete an initial ethics orientation.  With supervisory approval, you
are entitled to one hour of official duty time to complete a computer
based training module, "New Employee Ethics Orientation."  This module
is available for your review at: 
[[http://www.usda-ethics.net/training]{.underline}](http://www.usda-ethics.net/training). 
You will be directed to a secure site that will record your completion
of this module.  By nature of this appointment, you will be required to
complete annual ethics training.  If you have any questions regarding
completion of the financial disclosure report, please call
202-720-2251.  If you have questions regarding training requirements,
please contact the REE Ethics Office on 301-504-1467.  Any possible
conflict of interest should be resolved prior to your appointment.

**INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH FOR ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES:**

Within 90 days from the effective date of this appointment, you must
complete an initial ethics orientation.  With supervisory approval, you
are entitled to one hour of official duty time to complete a computer
based training module, "New Employee Ethics Orientation."  This module
is available for your review at: 
[[http://www.usda-ethics.net/training]{.underline}](http://www.usda-ethics.net/training). 
You will be directed to a secure site that will record your completion
of this module.   If you have any questions regarding completion of the
training requirements, please contact the REE Ethics Office on
301-504-1467.  Any possible conflict of interest should be resolved
prior to your appointment.

If you are unable to report as indicated above, or you have any
questions, please call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx.

We welcome you to the (name of agency).

Sincerely,

NAME OF SPECIALIST

Human Resources Specialist

cc:

LAO (Position or SF-52#)

Supervisor

OPF

Casefile