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Personnel Delegation #4


Personnel Delegation #4

OCT 23 1992

TO: Director of Headquarters Operations

FROM: Director

SUBJECT: Delegation of Authority for Incentive Awards Programs

AUTHORITY DELEGATED AND TO WHOM

  1. Pursuant to the authority delegated to the Director, Indian Health Service (IHS), by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Management Operations, Public Health Service (PHS) on September 20, 1991, I hereby delegate to the Director of Headquarters Operations, for personnel within the Indian Health Service, including personnel in or under a regional office but excluding PHS Commissioned Officers, the authority to:
    1. Grant cash awards based on special acts or services, inventions, and adopted employee suggestions in amounts not to exceed $2,500 for individuals or groups (award funds must be apportioned quarterly so that no more than one fourth of the total funds are paid out in any one quarter);
    2. Establish and grant honor awards, in accordance with Instruction HHS 451-1, subject to the approval of the Director, IHS, that are in addition to those prescribed Departmentwide, PHS and Indian Health Servicewide;
    3. Recommend groups to the Assistant Secretary for Health for cash awards for special acts or services, inventions, and adopted employee suggestions in amounts between $5,001 and $7,500;
    4. Recommend individuals or groups to the Assistant Secretary for Health for recommendation to the Secretary for cash awards for special acts or services, inventions, and adopted employee suggestions in amounts between $3,501 and $10,000 for individuals and between $7,501 and $10,000 for groups;
    5. Recommend individuals or groups to the Assistant Secretary for Health for recommendation to the Secretary for Presidential, Departmental and non-HHS awards;
    6. Grant length-of-service recognition for 34 years or less of service;
    7. Sign retirement certificates, and
    8. Recommend and approve time off awards.

REDELEGATION AND RESTRICTIONS

  1. Except as noted below, the authorities delegated in paragraph 1. above may be redelegated, with further redelegation authorized:
    1. The authority delegated in 1. a. to approve cash awards in amounts not to exceed $2,500 for individuals or groups may be redelegated to All Area Directors and the Associate Director, Office of Health Program Research and Development (OHPRD).
    2. The authority delegated in paragraph 1. f. above, may be redelegated to the Area Directors, and Associate Director, OHPRD.
    3. The authority delegated in paragraph 1. g. above may be redelegated to the Area Directors, and Associate Director, OHPRD.
    4. The authority delegated in paragraph 1. h. above to approve time off awards for more than one work day may be redelegated to Area Directors, and Associate Director, OHPRD. The authority to authorize recommending officials to grant time off awards without review or approval for periods not to exceed one work day may be redelegated.
  2. Regional Directors have been delegated the authority to grant the Regional Director's Citation to employees in or under a regional office or to individuals or organizations outside the Department.  This authority may not be redelegated.
  3. Regional Directors must be given the opportunity to provide comments on individual recommendations that require approval by the Secretary, for Presidential, Departmental, or non-HHS awards, when such recommendations are submitted for an employee in or under the regional office.
  4. All proposed cash incentive awards for SES members must be forwarded to the Director, IHS, who must concur prior to review by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Personnel Administration.
  5. The Public Health Service maintains a separate Incentive Awards Program at the PHS level to provide recognition through types of awards appropriate to PHS Commissioned Officers.
  6. IHS Personnel Office (Headquarters) has responsibility for the central administrative direction of the Incentive Awards Program within IHS.
  7. All redelegations must be in writing and be in accordance with Instruction HHS 250-3, Delegation of Personnel, Equal Employment Opportunity Authority and Headquarters/Regional Office Relationships.

RETENTION OF AUTHORITY

The Director, IHS, retains the authority to:

  • Approve cash awards for amounts between $2,501 and $3,500 for individuals and between $2,501 and $5,000 for groups; and
  • Grant length-of-service recognition for 35 to 50 years of service.

INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE

  1. Requirements and instructions for exercising this authority are contained in U.S. Office of Personnel Management interim regulations, Federal Personnel Manual, Chapter 451, and Personnel Instruction HHS 451-1 (amended August 9, 1991).

SUPERSESSION

This delegation supersedes Indian Health Manual, Part 1, Chapter 5, Delegations of Authority, Exhibit 1-5.2F-4, Incentive Awards and Employee Suggestions Program, TN 89-1, dated April 10, 1989.

EFFECTIVE DATE

This delegation is effective upon date of signature.

/Everett R. Rhoades, M.D./
Everett R. Rhoades, M.D.
Assistant Surgeon General


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