Opinion ID: 493881
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: OPM and Investigations of Prospective Federal Employees

Text: 4 Since it was established in 1978, OPM has served as the designated agency to evaluate the fitness of federal civil service applicants. In its dual capacity as investigator and record keeper, the agency accumulates vast quantities of personal information affecting an individual's opportunity to obtain employment with the government. It is the agency's obligation to compile these records that fixes the setting of this case and more generally highlights the practical import of the decision we reach today. 5 By law, the President may appoint persons to ascertain the fitness of civil service applicants as to their age, health, character, knowledge and ability for employment. 5 U.S.C. Sec. 3301 (1982). Under Executive Order No. 10,450, 3 C.F.R. 936 (Comp.1949-53) (as amended), the President has delegated to OPM,inter alia, the authority previously exercised by the U.S. Civil Service Commission to investigate and determine the suitability of persons entering or employed in nonsensitive positions within the competitive civil service. OPM is also responsible for making a more thorough assessment of individuals seeking federal contracts or employment with access to classified information or restricted areas. 6 To comply with the Executive Order, OPM performs two types of background investigations: a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a full field investigation. For nonsensitive positions, the NACI investigation suffices and indeed most of the background investigations performed by OPM are of this type, amounting to approximately 200,000 each year. Brief for Appellee at 1 n. 1. 7 In the event the NACI develops information indicating the possibility that an appointee to a nonsensitive position in the competitive service is unsuitable, or that an appointee to a nonsensitive position outside the competitive service in an agency which does not have investigative facilities to resolve such issues may be unsuitable, OPM will make such further personal investigation as necessary to enable the head of the department or agency or OPM, whichever has jurisdiction, to resolve the suitability question. Ordinarily this limited personal investigation (formerly called a Merit 13 investigation when conducted by the Civil Service Commission) will not be the equivalent of a full field investigation, but will be limited to verifying or disproving the information that may be disqualifying. Id.