[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 41, Volume 3] [Revised as of July 1, 2002] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 41CFR102-3.130] [Page 26-31] TITLE 41--PUBLIC CONTRACTS AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CHAPTER 102--FEDERAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION PART 102-3--FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT--Table of Contents Subpart C--How Are Advisory Committees Managed? Sec. 102-3.130 What policies apply to the appointment, and compensation or reimbursement of advisory committee members, staff, and experts and consultants? In developing guidelines to implement the Act and this Federal Advisory Committee Management part at the agency level, agency heads must address the following issues concerning advisory committee member and staff appointments, and considerations with respect to uniform fair rates of compensation for comparable services, or expense reimbursement of members, staff, and experts and consultants: (a) Appointment and terms of advisory committee members. Unless otherwise provided by statute, Presidential directive, or other establishment authority, advisory committee members serve at the pleasure of the appointing or inviting authority. Membership terms are at the sole discretion of the appointing or inviting authority. (b) Compensation guidelines. Each agency head must establish uniform compensation guidelines for members and staff of, and experts and consultants to an advisory committee. (c) Compensation of advisory committee members not required. Nothing in this subpart requires an agency head to provide compensation to any member of an advisory committee, unless otherwise required by a specific statute. (d) Compensation of advisory committee members. When an agency has authority to set pay administratively for advisory committee members, it may establish appropriate rates of pay (including any applicable locality pay authorized by the President's Pay Agent under 5 U.S.C. 5304(h)), not to exceed the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule under 5 U.S.C. 5315, unless a higher rate expressly is allowed by another statute. However, the agency head personally must authorize a rate of basic pay in excess of the maximum rate of basic pay established for the General Schedule under 5 U.S.C. 5332, or alternative similar agency compensation system. This maximum rate includes any applicable locality payment under 5 U.S.C. 5304. The agency may pay advisory committee members on either an hourly or a daily rate basis. The agency may not provide additional compensation in any form, such as bonuses or premium pay. (e) Compensation of staff. When an agency has authority to set pay administratively for advisory committee staff, it may establish appropriate rates of pay (including any applicable locality pay authorized by the President's Pay Agent under 5 U.S.C. 5304(h)), not to exceed the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule under 5 [[Page 27]] U.S.C. 5315, unless a higher rate expressly is allowed by another statute. However, the agency head personally must authorize a rate of basic pay in excess of the maximum rate of basic pay established for the General Schedule under 5 U.S.C. 5332, or alternative similar agency compensation system. This maximum rate includes any applicable locality payment under 5 U.S.C. 5304. The agency must pay advisory committee staff on an hourly rate basis. The agency may provide additional compensation, such as bonuses or premium pay, so long as aggregate compensation paid in a calendar year does not exceed the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule, with appropriate proration for a partial calendar year. (f) Other compensation considerations. In establishing rates of pay for advisory committee members and staff, the agency must comply with any applicable statutes, Executive orders, regulations, or administrative guidelines. In determining an appropriate rate of basic pay for advisory committee members and staff, an agency must give consideration to the significance, scope, and technical complexity of the matters with which the advisory committee is concerned, and the qualifications required for the work involved. The agency also should take into account the rates of pay applicable to Federal employees who have duties that are similar in terms of difficulty and responsibility. An agency may establish rates of pay for advisory committee staff based on the pay these persons would receive if they were covered by the General Schedule in 5 U.S.C. Chapter 51 and Chapter 53, subchapter III, or by an alternative similar agency compensation system. (g) Compensation of experts and consultants. Whether or not an agency has other authority to appoint and compensate advisory committee members or staff, it also may employ experts and consultants under 5 U.S.C. 3109 to perform work for an advisory committee. Compensation of experts and consultants may not exceed the maximum rate of basic pay established for the General Schedule under 5 U.S.C. 5332 (that is, the GS-15, step 10 rate, excluding locality pay or any other supplement), unless a higher rate expressly is allowed by another statute. The appointment and compensation of experts and consultants by an agency must be in conformance with applicable regulations issued by the U. S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) (See 5 CFR part 304.). (h) Federal employees assigned to an advisory committee. Any advisory committee member or staff person who is a Federal employee when assigned duties to an advisory committee remains covered during the assignment by the compensation system that currently applies to that employee, unless that person's current Federal appointment is terminated. Any staff person who is a Federal employee must serve with the knowledge of the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) for the advisory committee to which that person is assigned duties, and the approval of the employee's direct supervisor. (i) Other appointment considerations. An individual who is appointed as an advisory committee member or staff person immediately following termination of another Federal appointment with a full-time work schedule may receive compensation at the rate applicable to the former appointment, if otherwise allowed by applicable law (without regard to the limitations on pay established in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section). Any advisory committee staff person who is not a current Federal employee serving under an assignment must be appointed in accordance with applicable agency procedures, and in consultation with the DFO and the members of the advisory committee involved. (j) Gratuitous services. In the absence of any special limitations applicable to a specific agency, nothing in this subpart prevents an agency from accepting the gratuitous services of an advisory committee member or staff person who is not a Federal employee, or expert or consultant, who agrees in advance and in writing to serve without compensation. (k) Travel expenses. Advisory committee members and staff, while engaged in the performance of their duties away from their homes or regular [[Page 28]] places of business, may be allowed reimbursement for travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5703, for persons employed intermittently in the Government service. (l) Services for advisory committee members with disabilities. While performing advisory committee duties, an advisory committee member with disabilities may be provided services by a personal assistant for employees with disabilities, if the member qualifies as an individual with disabilities as provided in section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. 791, and does not otherwise qualify for assistance under 5 U.S.C. 3102 by reason of being a Federal employee. Appendix A to Subpart C of Part 102-3--Key Points and Principles This appendix provides additional guidance in the form of answers to frequently asked questions and identifies key points and principles that may be applied to situations not covered elsewhere in this subpart. The guidance follows: [[Page 29]] Appendix A to Subpart C -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Key points and principles Section Question(s) Guidance -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. FACA does not specify the 102-3.105, 102-3.130(a)..................... 1. Does the appointment of an A. No. Each agency head may manner in which advisory advisory committee member specify those policies and committee members and staff necessarily result in a lengthy procedures, consistent with the must be appointed. process? Act and this part, or other specific authorizing statute, governing the appointment of advisory committee members and staff. B. Some factors that affect how long the appointment process takes include: (i) Solicitation of nominations; (ii) Conflict of interest clearances; (iii) Security or background evaluations; (iv) Availability of candidates; and (v) Other statutory or administrative requirements. C. In addition, the extent to which agency heads have delegated responsibility for selecting members varies from agency to agency and may become an important factor in the time it takes to finalize the advisory committee's membership. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II. Agency heads retain the 102-3.130(a)................................ 1. Can an agency head select for A. The answer to question 1 is final authority for selecting membership on an advisory committee yes. Organizations may propose advisory committee members, from among nominations submitted by for membership individuals to unless otherwise provided for an organization? represent them on an advisory by a specific statute or committee. However, the agency Presidential directive. head establishing the advisory committee, or other appointing authority, retains the final authority for selecting all members. 2. If so, can different persons B. The answer to question 2 also represent the organization at is yes. Alternates may represent different meetings? an appointed member with the approval of the establishing agency, where the agency head is the appointing authority. III. An agency may compensate 102-3.130(d), 102-3.130(e), 102-3.130(g).... 1. May members and staff be A. The answer to question 1 is advisory committee members and compensated for their service or yes. (i) However, FACA limits staff, and also employ experts duties on an advisory committee? compensation for advisory and consultants. 2. Are the guidelines the same for committee members and staff to compensating both members and staff? the rate for level IV of the 3. May experts and consultants be Executive Schedule, unless employed to perform other advisory higher rates expressly are committee work? allowed by other statutes. (ii) Although FACA provides for compensation guidelines, the Act does not require an agency to compensate its advisory committee members. [[Page 30]] B. The answer to question 2 is no. The guidelines for compensating members and staff are similar, but not identical. For example, the differences are that: (i) An agency ``may'' pay members on either an hourly or a daily rate basis, and ``may not'' provide additional compensation in any form, such as bonuses or premium pay; while (ii) An agency ``must'' pay staff on an hourly rate basis only, and ``may'' provide additional compensation, so long as aggregate compensation paid in a calendar year does not exceed the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule, with appropriate proration for a partial calendar year. C. The answer to question 3 is yes. Other work not part of the duties of advisory committee members or staff may be performed by experts and consultants. For additional guidance on the employment of experts and consultants, agencies should consult the applicable regulations issued by the U. S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). (See 5 CFR part 304.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. Agency heads are responsible 102-3.105(h)................................ 1. Are all advisory committee members A. The answer to question 1 is for ensuring that the interests subject to conflict of interest no. Whether an advisory and affiliations of advisory statutes and other Federal ethics committee member is subject to committee members are reviewed rules? Federal ethics rules is for conformance with applicable 2. Who should be consulted for dependent on the member's conflict of interest statutes guidance on the proper application status. The determination of a and other Federal ethics rules.. of Federal ethics rules to advisory member's status on an advisory committee members? committee is largely a personnel classification matter for the appointing agency. Most advisory committee members will serve either as a ``representative'' or a ``special Government employee'' (SGE), based on the role the member will play. In general, SGEs are covered by regulations issued by the U. S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and certain conflict of interest statutes,while representatives are not subject to these ethics requirements. B. The answer to question 2 is the agency's Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO), who should be consulted prior to appointing members to an advisory committee in order to apply Federal ethics rules properly. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- V. An agency head may delegate 102-3.105(c), 102-3.105(i).................. 1. Must an agency's CMO and each A. The answer to question 1 is responsibility for appointing a advisory committee DFO be appointed no. The agency head may delegate Committee Management Officer by the agency head? responsibility for appointing (CMO) or Designated Federal the CMO and DFOs. However, these Officer (DFO); however, there appointments, including may be only one CMO for each alternate selections, should be agency.. documented consistent with the agency's policies and procedures. [[Page 31]] 2. May an agency have more than one B. The answer to question 2 also CMO? is no. The functions of the CMO are specified in the Act and include oversight responsibility for all advisory committees within the agency. Accordingly, only one CMO may be appointed to perform these functions. The agency may, however, create additional positions, including those in its subcomponents, which are subordinate to the CMO's agencywide responsibilities and functions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VI. FACA is the principal 102-3.125(c)................................ 1. Do other statutes or regulations A. Yes. While the Act provides a statute pertaining to advisory affect the way an agency carries out general framework for managing committees. However, other its advisory committee management advisory committees statutes may impact their use program? Governmentwide, other factors and operations.. may affect how advisory committees are managed. These include: (i) The statutory or Presidential authority used to establish an advisory committee; (ii) A statutory limitation placed on an agency regarding its annual expenditures for advisory committees; (iii) Presidential or agency management directives; (iv) The applicability of conflict of interest statutes and other Federal ethics rules; (v) Agency regulations affecting advisory committees; and (vi) Other requirements imposed by statute or regulation on an agency or its programs, such as those governing the employment of experts and consultants or the management of Federal records. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 32]]