This FMD provides guidance for the clearance and issuance of assignments to ORA field units. To help assure the appropriate and efficient use of FDA resources, assignments requesting work by ORA field units must be developed, cleared and issued in a reasoned and timely manner.
Assignments vary in priority.
While this process generally worked well, the nature and frequency of assignments has changed. Therefore, the process for assignment clearance is being revised to reflect current circumstances. Assignments which do not require ORA concurrence will issue directly from the Center or other FDA HQ unit to the Regions and Districts which are to accomplish the work. These assignments take priority over all other field work, including work of the issuing Center and other Centers. Clearance may be obtained via telephone in emergency or unusually tight deadline situations.