UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT 

Office of Fire and Aviation 

3833 S. Development Avenue 

Boise, Idaho 83705-5354 

October 22, 2004 

In Reply Refer To: 

1400-500/9210 (300) I 

EMS Transmission 10/22/04 

Instruction Memorandum FA IM 2005-004 

Expires: 09/30/05 

To: State Directors 

From: Director, Office of Fire and Aviation 

Subject: Interagency Fire Program Management Qualifications Standards and Guide 

Purpose: This Instruction Memorandum (IM) provides direction for filling vacant key fire 

program positions that are designated for conversion to the GS-0401 job series by the 

Interagency Fire Program Management Qualifications Standards and Guide (IFPM). 

Policy/Action: The IFPM information paper issued by Assistant Secretary Scarlett on June 18, 

2004, stated that “Between October 1, 2004 and October 1, 2009, all vacant or newly created 

positions determined to be professional may be classified and advertised in separate 

announcements as both professional (GS-0401) and technical (GS-0462, GS-0455).” 

Please ensure that your human resource staff assists your fire management staff by classifying 

and advertising vacant fire program positions in both GS-0401 and GS-0462/GS-0455 series, as 

requested by the fire management officer. 

Additionally, positions that are approved for firefighter retirement under 5 USC 8336(c) and 

8412(d) in one series must be submitted for approval in the other if your fire management officer 

wishes to advertise in both series. This must be done so that viable candidates for these positions 

are treated equally, regardless of whether they are currently qualified for the GS-0401 or the GS0462/GS-0455 series. The IFPM directs that specifically identified fire program positions be 

encumbered by GS-0401 qualified employees by October 1, 2009. It is not intended to prevent 

employees who are not currently qualified for the GS-0401 series from competing for jobs that 

have been designated for conversion to GS-0401 by October 1, 2009. 

Time Frame: This IM is effective immediately. 
2

Budget Impact: There will be tuition and travel costs associated with providing training classes 

for any technicians in jobs identified for conversion to the GS-0401 series by October 1, 2009. 

Background: On June 18, 2004, Assistant Secretary Scarlett issued a white paper and 

announced the implementation of the IFPM. The implementation plan and the communication 

plan for the IFPM have recently been issued, but some confusion exists regarding the filling of 

fire program positions. This IM is meant to clarify issues related to filling vacant fire program 

positions. 

Directives Affected: None. 

Coordination: This IM was coordinated with the Office of Fire and Aviation (OF&A) Human 

Resource Management Chief, and with the Firefighter and Law Enforcement Retirement Team. 

Offices with a Union: Offices with a Union must follow negotiated procedures. 

Contact: If you have questions about this issue, please contact Sean Cross, Fire Operations 

Group, OF&A at (208) 387-5444, or Jim Knox, Chief, Human Resources Management, OF&A 

at (208) 387-5514. 

Signed by: Authenticated by: 

Timothy M. Murphy Pat Lewis 

Acting Director Supervisory Mgmt. Asst. 

Distribution:

Fire Program Advisor, WO, FA-101 

BLM ADs 

OF&A Management Team 

Chief, HRM, OF&A, FA-202 

State FMOs 

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