MEMORANDUM

TO: Quasette Crowner

 

FROM: Chief Operating Officer

 

SUBJECT: Re-delegation of Human Resources Authority 

Under the authority delegated to me by the Secretary of Education, in Delegation Control 

Number EA/EN/58 certified on January 9, 2006, I hereby redelegate to you, your successor in 

function, or anyone serving for you in an acting capacity or delegated the authority to perform 

the functions and duties of your position, Human Resources Authority with respect to the 

operations of Management Services of Federal Student Aid (FSA) as it interacts and collaborates 

with the rest of the Department of Education (ED or Department), including the Office of 

Finance and Operations (OFO) formerly the Office of Management. The authority being 

delegated to you includes the following: 

1. The responsibility and accountability for day-to-day implementation of personnel decisions 

and processes. In the exercise of these human resources functions, you will abide by all 

applicable laws, regulations, collective bargaining agreements, and departmental policies and 

guidance, including specific personnel requirements necessary to comply with Departmentwide initiatives (such as diversity recruitment or internal placement activities).

2. The ability to customize specific personnel policies tailored to the business needs of FSA. 

You will work with ED’s Human Resources Director, who will assist you in reviewing and 

resolving legal sufficiency issues related to any such customized personnel policy. You will 

obtain ED’s senior management approval for any FSA specific personnel policies (e.g., 

performance appraisal, awards, etc.). You will notify OFO/Office of Human Resources of 

any modifications to personnel policies that FSA implements and provide copies of the 

modified policies for Departmental records.

3. The authority under ED's Human Capital Policies (HCPs), Human Capital Memorandum 

(HCM), Personnel Manual Instructions (PMIs) to make decisions on a full range of 

personnel actions affecting FSA, as well as, to carry out the following FSA’s human 

resources activities and functions: 

a. Detail FSA employees. 

b. Approve Time-in-Grade Waivers.

c. Appoint Senior Managers and Professional/Technical Employees permitted under 

FSA’s PBO legislation, as amended. 

d. Carry out Merit Promotion Plan activities for FSA.

e. Make Superior Qualification Appointments. 

f. Carry out Reductions-in-Force for FSA, in coordination with ED. 

g. Approve of Telework Agreements (flexiplace).
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h. Carry out all disciplinary actions and adverse actions (counseling, reductions in grade, 

removal, and all other adverse actions) for FSA. FSA will consult with the Office of 

the General Counsel (OGC) on adverse actions of 14 days or more and reductions in 

grade and removals, including performance-based actions.

i. Establish Senior Level/Senior Technical pay (SL/ST pay). 

j. Approve Grade and Pay Retention.

k. Manage Placement of Grade Retention Employees within FSA and approve 

exceptions to the placement requirements.

l. Approve Student Loan Repayments. 

m. Approve overtime pay for GS-15s. 

n. Administer the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program (VLT), approve an employee’s 

application to become a leave recipient and approve the donation of annual leave 

under ED’s VLT for ED employees. 

o. Approve Recruitment Bonuses, Relocation Bonuses, and Retention Allowances. 

p. Handle FSA Employee Grievances.

q. Approve and effect non-discretionary actions.

r. Administer oaths of office upon entry of duty. 

s. Approve and effect emergency appointments. 

4. The authority to carry out the following Employee Relations activities not specifically 

covered by ED's HCP, HCMs and PMIs: 

FSA Delegations of Human Resources Operating Authority

a. Through ED’s existing contracts or other appropriate vehicles, provide FSA managers 

with counseling services to assist them in carrying out the following management 

responsibilities: adverse actions; disciplinary actions; performance based actions; 

within grade denials; suitability determinations; reasonable accommodation 

determinations; medical issues; administrative grievances; management representation 

(unemployment hearings); settlement agreement negotiations; technical representative; 

case log; ethics report; leave administration; and training to FSA managers on this 

subject matter. 

b. Schedule appropriate drug tests for FSA employees and order supplies using ED’s 

contracts. FSA is currently assessed a charge back for the use of these services through 

ED’s existing contracts. Ongoing use of these services will continue to be charged back 

to FSA.

c. Review, approve, and process Quality Step Increases (QSIs) for FSA employees in 

accordance with ED’s awards policy, FSA’s award policy, and government-wide 

regulatory requirements.

d. Provide ongoing advice and assistance to FSA employees and managers and coordinate 

with Human Resource Services on Workers’ Compensation issues. 

5. The authorities to carry out labor-management relations activities:
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FSA Delegations of Human Resources Operating Authority

a. Negotiate, in consultation with OFO, mid-term agreements with the union that cover 

FSA employees only. FSA must obtain the Secretary's approval of such agreements, as 

provided by law and ED's Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

b. Negotiate mid-term agreements, or establish policies, that are inconsistent with 

Department-level collective bargaining agreements, but only after obtaining approval 

from the Assistant Secretary for Finance and Operations. 

c. Provide training and labor relations advisory services/technical assistance to FSA 

managers on FSA matters, in consultation with OFO on interpretation of Departmentlevel collective bargaining agreements and on matters with impact on principal offices 

other than FSA. 

d. Represent ED before arbitrators, the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and the Federal 

Service Impasses Panel in matters arising in FSA that clearly affect only FSA; decisions 

as to whether cases meet these criteria will be made on a case-by-case basis by OFO. 

OFO will continue to receive unfair labor practice charges, arbitration requests, etc., and 

will maintain ED’s arbitration calendar.

6. The following authorities to carry out training and development activities: 

FSA Delegations of Human Resources Operating Authority

a. Provide FSA new employee orientation, leadership, development, technical skills 

training and career counseling to FSA employees and managers in support of FSA’s 

Human Capital Management Plan and Annual Performance Plan. 

b. Assess employee skills to determine skill gaps and/or developmental needs, and take 

appropriate actions to reduce skill gaps and improve performance. 

c. Provide individual development planning services to FSA employees.

d. Develop special programs for addressing individual development and providing 

various learning interventions. 

e. Provide mentoring programs and/or services for FSA employees.

f. Collect and report ED training and development metrics data to OFO, as required. 

g. Coordinate tuition reimbursement for FSA employees in headquarters and regions 

with OFO/OHR.

7. The following authorities related to classification, staffing, hiring, and compensation not 

specifically covered by ED’s HCPs, HCMs and PMIs (currently performed in both 

OFO/OHR Talent, Recruitment and Hiring and the Executive Resources Division): 

FSA Delegations of Human Resources Operating Authority

a. Implement new classification and qualifications standards in accordance with OPM 

and Department guidance. 

b. Appoint, promote, reassign, and realign employees under various authorities. 

c. Appoint, reassign, and detail FSA Senior Managers and set rates of pay up to a 

maximum of Executive Level III. 
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d. Establish pay rates for Professional/Technical employees in accordance with 

applicable laws and regulations. 

e. Classify positions and Desk Audits in accordance with OPM standards, guides and 

policies. 

f. Determine bargaining unit status, competitive levels, Fair Labor Standards Act status 

and similar determinations for FSA positions.

g. Obtain authority from OPM to conduct Delegated Examining for competitive service 

positions and carry out Delegated Examining in accordance with OPM requirements.

h. Provide advisory services to FSA managers and employees. 

i. Establish entrance on duty dates and exchange preliminary employment data for 

employees transferring in or out of FSA. 

j. Approve and appoint Experts and Consultants, including setting and adjusting pay. 

k. Administer and approve Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) assignments and 

completion of all applicable forms and documentation required for IPA agreements, 

including the certification of eligible organizations, coordinating the terms of the 

assignment agreement with external organizations, and establishing a formal written 

IPA agreement. 

l. Approve and effect performance bonuses authorized by Title 5 U.S.C. 451 and PL 

105-244, time-off awards, and cash awards based on special acts or services, adopted 

employee suggestions, and staff recognition for individuals and groups in amounts not 

to exceed $10,000. Actions for employees assigned to positions in the Senior 

Executive Service are subject to the Secretary’s approval.

8. The following authorities to carry out work/life programs not specifically covered by ED 

HCPs, HCMs and PMIs: 

FSA Delegations of Human Resources Operating Authority

a. Provide reasonable accommodation problem-solving and functional assessments for 

FSA employees and managers.

b. Provide advisory services to FSA managers and employees related to work/life 

programs. 

9. The following activities related to human resources systems and their operation: 

FSA Delegations of Human Resources Operating Authority

a. FSA will coordinate with ED to establish and administer the Federal Personnel Payroll 

System (FPPS) processes for FSA personnel and payroll transactions in FPPS, 

including establishment of a separate FSA Servicing Personnel Office (SPO) and the 

time and attendance (T&A) bi-weekly. 

b. FSA will use the services of the Employee Express portal functionalities, especially 

for the bi-weekly receipt of the FSA employee Leave and Earnings Statements. 

c. FSA will produce FSA human resources management reports from data contained in 

FPPS. 
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10. The following activities related to processing and records: 

FSA Delegations of Human Resources Operating Authority

a. Approve and sign Standard Form 50, Notification of Personnel Action, related to the 

delegated personnel authorities. 

b. Approve and sign Standard Form 52, Request for Personnel Action, related to 

delegated personnel authorities.

c. Process payroll documents and benefits.

d. Maintain Official Personnel Folders, performance agreements, Employee Performance 

Folders, staffing case files, and all other human resources records related to the 

exercise of human resources delegations of authority in accordance with OPM and ED 

requirements. FSA shall fully participate and support ED efforts to implement e-gov 

initiatives related to electronic personnel records and imaging of existing records as 

these initiatives is implemented across ED. 

e. Respond to the annual FSA HR employee survey of specific human resources data, as 

recommended by the Office of Inspector General FPPS Audit finding. 

11. FSA will have authority under the approved delegation to determine what regional HR 

support will best meet its needs. 

These delegations of Human Resources Authority shall remain in place unless terminated 

or modified by the Chief Operating Officer. No further redelegation is authorized. I 

hereby ratify actions within the scope of this delegation taken by you, your 

predecessors in function, or anyone serving in acting capacity or officially performing 

the functions and duties of your position, which involved the exercise of the authorities 

delegated herein, prior to the date of the certification of this delegation.

_________s/___________ 

 Richard Cordray 

FSA Chief Operating Officer

OGC Concurrence and Date:___Michael Taylor_______________________10/26/2022_ 

DOA: EN1/EN1/103

Date Certified: 10/27/2022

Delegations Control Officer: Jim Clemmens
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