United States

Office of 

Personnel Management 

The Federal Government’s Human Resources Agency

Benefits Administration Letter

Number: 20-302 Date: March 2020 

Subject: March 2020 Headcount

This is a reminder for all payroll providers, including cross-service providers (e.g. National 

Finance Center (NFC), Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), etc.), to submit the 

semiannual Headcount for the March 2020 reporting period no later than March 31, 2020. 

The semiannual Headcount reporting (March and September) provides the OPM with a snapshot 

of agency-wide enrollment for participants in the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), 

Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), Federal Employees Retirement System – 

Revised Annuity Employees (FERS-RAE), Federal Employees Retirement System – Further 

Revised Annuity Employees (FERS-FRAE), Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) 

Program, and/or the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program. 

The March 2020 Headcount reporting period is for payroll paid during the first 15 days of March

for weekly and bi-weekly pay cycles. For monthly pay cycles, the reporting period is February 1 

through February 29, 2020. NOTE: Beginning with the March 2020 Headcount, Payroll 

providers will be able use OPM’s Headcount Collection System (HCS) to input data and submit 

OPM Forms 1523 and 2812A electronically. HCS also provides an electronic upload feature 

using a standardized template. 

To ensure payroll providers have the necessary knowledge to successfully submit Headcount 

reports electronically during the March 2020 season, HCS Standard Operating Procedures and 

training materials have been developed. Hands-on training sessions are scheduled and available 

for sign-up (see schedule below). For payroll providers currently using an automated print-tofile process (or other automation), training sessions specifically focused on the HCS template 

upload file are also available. Additionally, a Headcount Support Help Desk will be staffed

during the Headcount reporting period to answer real-time questions. 

For questions about the new electronic collection process, please contact the Headcount Support 

Team via telephone at 202-606-5034, or, via email at HeadcountSupport@opm.gov. 

Headcount reports must be submitted no later than March 31, 2020. If report submission 

delays or difficulties are anticipated, please call Ms. Yadira Vega at 202-606-4842. Note: 

Standard Retirement and Insurance Transfer System (RITS) reports should not be delayed 

because Headcount submissions are not ready/complete.

Dennis D. Coleman

Chief Financial Officer
2

Headcount Collection System Training (HCS) Schedule

HCS User Training Sessions are scheduled for the following dates/times:

• Tuesday, February 18, 2PM – 3PM EST 

• Tuesday, February 25, 10AM – 11AM EST

• Thursday, February 27, 4PM – 5PM EST

All trainings are conducted online. Please join audio at:

 Dial-in: 877-953-4131 

 Passcode: 53663633 

 For video, join the webinar using Adobeconnect: 

https://opmcfo.adobeconnect.com/tfmhcspotrain/

HCS Automated Upload Sessions are scheduled for the following dates/times: 

• Wednesday, February 19, 10AM – 11AM EST

• Thursday, February 20, 2PM – 3PM EST

• Monday, February 24, 4PM – 5PM EST

All trainings are conducted online. Please join audio at: 

 Dial-in: 877-953-4131 

 Passcode: 53663633 

 For video, join the webinar using Adobeconnect: 

https://opmcfo.adobeconnect.com/tfmhcspotrain/

For any training questions, please contact the Headcount Support Team via telephone at 202-

606-5034, or, via email at HeadcountSupport@opm.gov.