You should keep a copy of these important records. If something should happen to your offical OPF, your copies of your SF-50Bs, Notification of Personnel Actions, could be used to reconstruct your personnel history. When an employee separates from federal service, the last employing office sends the OPF to the National Personnel Records Center for storage. Normally, the OPF is sent within 120 days after the employee separates. The National Personnel Records Center retains OPFs for 65 years after separation.
Former employees can request copies of their personnel records.
Performance ratings of record and the performance plans on which those ratings are based are required to be maintained for four years. The servicing HR office requests performance records from other Federal agencies. When an employee separates from federal service, the employee's rating official should forward the EPF to the servicing HR office. These records do not include records on claims filed under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act. When an employee separates from federal service, if an EMF exists, the last employing office sends the EMF to the National Personnel Records Center.