Human Resources Clarification Guidance for DOI Personnel Bulletin 19-09

BIA FWS BLM NPS

Subject: Departmental Policy on Qualification Requirements for GS-0401 Fire Program 

Management

Reference: Department of the Interior (DOI) Personnel Bulletin (PB) 19-09, effective 

July 31, 2019

This issuance supersedes DOI PB 07-13, dated December 4, 2007, and attachments.

Implementation Date: August 15, 2019

This document was prepared by bureau Human Resources Specialists for the Wildland 

Fire Program to assure clarity and consistency in implementing DOI PB 19-09.

As stated in the DOI PB 19-09, the DOI supplemental qualification standard for 

recruitment of fire program management is to ensure consistency across the DOI fire 

bureaus. Although OPM’s basic education requirements have not changed, the edits to 

the updated GS-401 Supplemental Qualification Standards include: 

● Updated naming convention (i.e. General Schedule Qualification Standards).

● Adjusted format to make document flow easier.

● Added GS-5 grade level specialized experience for qualifying at the GS-7.

● Added definition for Specialized Experience Requirements, Superior Academic 

Achievement, and Graduate Education in Lieu of an Advanced Degree.

● Added table format for additional specialized experience, and education 

requirements.

● Updated examples of specialized experience requirements at grades GS-7 through 

GS-11.

● Supervisors consult with HR on development of specialized experience 

requirements for GS-12 and above grade levels.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose of the Implementation Guidance for DOI Personnel Bulletin 19-09

This implementation guidance along with the DOI Personnel Bulletin (PB) 19-09, 

contains specific information on qualifying coursework and experience when making 

qualification determinations for GS-401 Fire Program Management Specialist positions.

2.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 Supervisory and Managerial Responsibilities Wildland Fire Management:
● It is essential that wildland fire supervisors, managers and selecting officials of 

related fire management positions familiarize themselves with the explanatory 

information accompanying the course listings and qualifying specialized 

experience. 

● Communicate with subordinate staff the content and requirements of GS-401 Fire 

Program Management Specialists to assure familiarity with the basic education 

and specialized experience requirements.

● Verify the GS-401 supplemental standard and related information is adequately 

retained and clearly accessible at all times by subordinate hiring officials 

recruiting and filling wildland fire positions.

2.2 Human Resources Management Responsibilities: 

● Ensure that all Human Resource staff implement the DOI PB 19-09, and correctly 

apply the GS-401 Supplemental Qualification Standards for GS-401 fire program 

management specialist positions.

● Ensure that operating office Human Resources Specialists are educated on the 

policies and references which they need to properly recruit and qualify applicants 

for GS-401 fire program management specialist positions. This includes a 

working knowledge of the content and location of the most current references, 

and any/all websites, associated forms, templates, and job aids. 

● HR specialists should follow their bureau guidance in requesting college 

transcripts for recruitment to these positions.

3.0 SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS LISTED IN THE GS-401 SUPPLEMENTAL 

 QUALIFICATIONS STANDARD - QUALIFYING COURSEWORK 

3.1 Technical Fire Management Program (TFM) Attachment 1 “Staffing 

 Guidance” Specialized Experience Part A. 

Part A. Technical Fire Management Courses (TFM): A TFM certificate of completion is 

creditable for 18 semester hours of partial credit toward the total of 24 hours of required 

coursework for GS-401 fire program management specialist positions. During the period 

of 1981 to 2013, the Washington Institute conducted a Technical Fire Management 

program for employees of both DOI and the United States Department of Agriculture 

(USDA). The program was accredited through two universities Colorado State 

University (CSU) and Humboldt State University (HSU). Successful completion of the 

program at either of these universities was accomplished by completing six program 

modules, (six, three credit, 400 level courses, totaling 18 semester hours). However, the 

TFM certificate of completion may lack the course number and title, and semester hours 

of college credit; but will contain the name of the university and a dated signature from 

an official of the college or the Washington Institute. 
If a TFM student did not complete all of the required modules then they were not

awarded a TFM certificate of completion. In this case all semester hours earned must be 

listed on a transcript to be creditable. 

Individuals possessing these certificates of completion were credited 18 semester hours 

toward meeting the GS-401 basic education requirement. The certificate of completion 

remains creditable for 18 semester hours toward the 24 total semester hours required.

3.2 National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Attachment 1 “Staffing 

 Guidance” Specialized Experience Part B

● Employees who met qualification requirements using NWCG courses, without 

academic transcripts, prior to February 15, 2005, and were appointed, either

promoted, or reassigned into the GS-0401 by that date, as Fire Management 

Specialists were not affected by these changes if they remained in their current 

position. 

● After February 15, 2005, NWCG courses are only creditable when listed on a 

transcript from an accredited educational institution and they must be in one of 

the disciplines listed in the GS-401 Supplemental Qualification Standard.

4.0 CLARIFICATION OF BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR 

 GS-401 POSITIONS

● Per OPM guidance, applicants for any GS-401position may qualify in two ways: 

A. Degree in a related discipline as listed in Part A of the Basic Qualification 

Requirements, or B. a combination of education (which includes 24 semester 

hours in one or more of the disciplines) AND qualifying, creditable experience 

that when added to the coursework, totals four years.

● DOI PB 19-09 contains the Policy Interpretation of the Supplemental 

Qualification Standard for the GS-401 Fire Management Specialist to include the 

listing (see Staffing Guidance, Attachment 1) of related fields of study which may 

be used to meet the basic education requirements. Having a concentration of 

coursework in one or more of these fields as listed, meets the requirement for a 

related discipline appropriate to a Fire Program Management Specialist position 

(this must consist of a combination of closely related subject areas from the list).

Individuals applying for these positions may qualify in two ways: A. a degree in 

a related discipline, OR a combination of education (which includes 24 semester 

hours reflecting a progression of completed coursework in one or more of the 

disciplines) courses showing a demonstrated progression as would be typical 

toward a major in a particular field of study, plus qualifying, creditable experience 

that when added to the coursework, totals four years.

● HR Specialists should familiarize themselves with the explanatory narrative 

accompanying the course listings found in the Staffing Guidance Attachment 1. 
5.0 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS FOR GS- 

 401-12 AND ABOVE FIRE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST 

 POSITIONS

GS-401-12 and above grade levels

● Hiring managers in consultation with Human Resources Specialists must now 

develop the job analysis and provide and examples of specialized experience in 

accordance with the duties and responsibilities of the job description.

● Specialized experience is typically in or related to the work of the position to be 

filled. The applicant’s experience must demonstrate that he/she possesses the 

knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the work of the GS-401 Fire Program 

Management Specialist occupation.

● The final result is a narrative description of specialized experience described at 

the next lower grade level or equivalent, required for the vacancy announcement 

and used in evaluating the applicants for the basic qualifications of the position.

Please direct questions on the information contained in this guidance to your respective 

Bureau Human Resources Specialists for the Wildland Fire Program: