[`Material Transmitted:`]{.underline}

    HHS Instruction 511-1, Position Classification Program

[`Material Superseded:`]{.underline}

    HHS Instruction 511-1 (all)

    HHS Instruction 511-2 (all)

    HHS Instruction 511-3 (all)

    HHS Instruction 511-4 (all)

    HHS Instruction 511-5 (all)

    HHS Instruction 511-6 (all)

    HHS Instruction 511-7 (all)

    HHS Instruction 511-9 (all)

    HHS Instruction 511-10 (all)

    HHS Circular 511-3 (all)

    HHS Instruction 532-2 (all)

[`Background:`]{.underline}

    This Instruction has been revised consistent with recent changes in the organization of HHS,  and in support of HHS administrative initiatives calling for more streamlined rules and greater delegations of authority.

    Under this issuance, delegations of authority have increased and ten Instructions and one Circular have been consolidated and substantially streamlined because of similar subject matter and outdated material which does not add value to personnel processes.

    Any reference to "OPDIV" in this Instruction now includes the PHS agencies, the Office of the Secretary, the Program Support Center, HCFA, ACF, and AOA.

    This issuance is effective immediately.  Implementation of this issuance must be carried out in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and bargaining agreements.

[`Filing Instructions:`]{.underline}

    Remove superseded material and file new material.  Post receipt of this transmittal to the HHS Check List of Transmittals and file this transmittal in sequential order after the check list.

    John . Callahan

    Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget

    INSTRUCTION 511-1

`Distribution:  MS (PERS) :  HRFC-001`[HHS PERSONNEL INSTRUCTION
511-1]{.underline}

[POSITION CLASSIFICATION PROGRAM]{.underline}

511-1-00 Purpose

10 Coverage

20 References

30 Basic Responsibility for Classification Administration

40 Effective Dates of Classification Decisions

50 Employee Classification Appeals

60 Agency Classification Appeals

70 Classification of Attorney Positions

Exhibit 511-1-A Delegations of Classification Authority

511-1-00 PURPOSE

This Instruction outlines the policies, requirements, and
responsibilities for administration of the Departments position
classification program. It also delegates authority to the OPDIVs to
establish special classification systems when a different system is
authorized by law or by administrative authority.

511-1-10 COVERAGE

This Instruction covers the classification of positions under the
general schedule and Federal wage system.

511-1-20 REFERENCES

A.  Us. Code 5101 through 5115 (law - classification)

B.  Us. Code 5346 (law - job grading system)

C.  CFR 511 (regulations - classification under the general schedule)

D.  CFR 532, Subparts F and G (regulations - job grading system)

511-1-30 BASIC RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLASSIFICATION ADMINISTRATION

A.  OPDIV Heads and personnel officers are responsible for ensuring that
    the classification program within their organizations or the
    organizations they service is carried out consistently with the law,
    regulations, policies, requirements, delegated authorities, and
    Office of Personnel Management (OPM) classification standards.

B.  Generally, classification authority will be exercised by the
    personnel office. In those unusual situations when an official above
    the personnel office chooses to personally exercise delegated
    classification authority, such official must properly apply
    classification standards.

C.  If an OPDIV wishes to delegate classification authority outside the
    personnel office on an ongoing basis, it must submit a plan to the
    Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources for approval. The
    plan must describe the authority which will be delegated, the
    training to be provided, and the mechanisms to evaluate the exercise
    of the authority.

511-1-40 EFFECTIVE DATES OF CLASSIFICATION DECISIONS

Unless otherwise directed by OPM instructions, personnel actions
resulting from classification decisions within this Department will be
implemented no earlier than the date of the decision, and no later than
the fourth pay period beginning after that date.

511-1-50 EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATION APPEALS

General schedule employees may appeal the classification of their
positions either within the Department or directly to OPM. If they
appeal first within the Department, they may further appeal to OPM.
However, if they first appeal to OPM, they have no further appeal

rights.

Wage grade employees must appeal first within the Department. If
dissatisfied with the result, they may then appeal to OPM. An appeal to
OPM must be filed within 15 calendar days after receipt of the agency
appeal decision.

OPDIVs will establish procedures for reviewing and deciding appeals. An
appeal must be decided at a level different from the one that initially
classified the position.

511-1-60 AGENCY CLASSIFICATION APPEALS

When an OPDIV disagrees with a decision rendered by OPM on a
classification appeal, the OPDIV may request that the decision be
reconsidered. Such requests will be forwarded to the Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Human Resources for review and endorsement to OPM.

511-1-70 CLASSIFICATION OF ATTORNEY POSITIONS

When classifying attorney positions in the Office of the General Counsel
(OGC), officials with classification authority will accept a
certification from OGC concerning the type of cases and the level of
independence at which the attorney is operating, and classification will
be based on this certification.

Attorney positions will not be established outside of OGC without the
concurrence of that office.

Exhibit A

DELEGATIONS OF CLASSIFICATION AUTHORITY

A.  AUTHORITY DELEGATED

    1.  The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources is delegated
        full classification authority and is the final Department
        authority for technical classification matters.

    2.  The Heads of OPDIVs (including PHS agencies, the Program Support
        Center, HCFA, ACF, and AOA) , the Assistant Secretary for
        Management and Budget for the Office of the Secretary (OS), the
        Inspector General (for OIG), and personnel officers are
        delegated the authority to:

        a.  classify all general schedule and Federal wage system
            positions; and

        b.  classify positions when a law, executive order, regulation,
            or administrative authority authorizes their establishment
            outside of existing systems.

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    1.  Before establishing any position in the GS-905 Series outside
        the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), written concurrence
        must be obtained from the OGC. Before establishing any position
        in the GS-1811 Series outside the OIG, written concurrence must
        be obtained from the OIG.

    2.  The above delegations do not include authority to classify
        Administrative Law Judge positions. This authority is retained
        by OPM.

    3.  The above delegated authority may be redelegate with further
        redelegation authorized.

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A.  EFFECTIVE DATE\
    \
    These delegations are effective on the date of this transmittal.
    Existing delegations which are consistent with these delegations may
    remain in effect.