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FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS (WO)
WASHINGTON, DC
FSH 6109.12 – EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 20 – INTERNAL PLACEMENT
Interim Directive No.: 6109.12-2014-1
Effective Date: March 10, 2014
Duration: This interim directive expires on September 10, 2015.
Approved: ANGELA COLEMAN
Associate Deputy Chief, OPS
Date Approved: 03/07/2014
Posting Instructions: Interim directives are numbered consecutively by handbook number
and calendar year. Post by document at the end of the chapter. Retain this transmittal as the first
page(s) of this document. The last interim directive was 6109.12-2012-1 to chapter 20.
New Document
id_6109.12-2014-1
5 Pages
Superseded Document(s)
(Interim Directive Number
and Effective Date)
id_6109.12-2012-1, 08/22/2012
5 Pages
Digest:
This interim directive (ID) reissues without change, the direction previously issued in
id_6109.12-2012-1.
23.22e - Revises caption and updates direction on open continuous recruitment.
23.23b - Makes editorial, style, and format changes and corrections. Revises direction on area of
consideration and announcement timeframes for compliance with Presidential Memorandum
“Improving the Federal Recruitment and Hiring Process.”
23.25c - Makes editorial, style, and format changes and corrections. Updates direction on
referral list timeframes for compliance with Presidential Memorandum.
WO INTERIM DIRECTIVE
EFFECTIVE DATE: 03/10/2014
DURATION: This interim directive expires on 09/10/2015.
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FSH 6109.12 – EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 20 – INTERNAL PLACEMENT
Table of Contents
23.22e - Open Continuous Recruitment Vacancy Announcements ........................................ 3
23.23b - Area of Consideration ............................................................................................... 3
23.25c - Referral List Timeframes .......................................................................................... 4
WO INTERIM DIRECTIVE
EFFECTIVE DATE: 03/10/2014
DURATION: This interim directive expires on 09/10/2015.
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FSH 6109.12 – EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 20 – INTERNAL PLACEMENT
23.22e - Open Continuous Recruitment Vacancy Announcements
Use of Open Continuous Recruitment (OCR) vacancy announcements are encouraged where
appropriate, such as advertising similar jobs with a range of grade levels in a variety of locations
or for occupations with high turnover.
1. Qualifications determinations may be made and referral lists may be issued at various
times during the life of the announcement, by using specific cut-off dates or as needed
depending upon the need to fill a vacancy or the volume of applications.
2. A referral list may not be issued prior to the minimum timeframes allowed in
section 23.23b.
23.23b - Area of Consideration
1. Criteria for Determining Area of Consideration. The area of consideration is
determined between the selecting official and Human Resources. The area of
consideration must:
a. Promote fair and open competition.
b. Attract a diverse applicant pool.
c. Yield a sufficient candidate pool.
2. Standard Areas of Consideration. Standard areas of consideration are:
a. Government-wide.
b. Department-wide.
c. Service-wide.
d. Region-wide.
e. Forest-wide.
f. Station-wide.
g. Institute-wide.
h. Area-wide.
i. Job Corps Centers.
WO INTERIM DIRECTIVE
EFFECTIVE DATE: 03/10/2014
DURATION: This interim directive expires on 09/10/2015.
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FSH 6109.12 – EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 20 – INTERNAL PLACEMENT
j. Washington Office.
k. Law Enforcement and Investigations.
3. Non-Standard Areas.
a. Units may use non-standard areas of consideration for positions that serve more
than one unit (for example, zones, provinces, clusters, Albuquerque Service Center
(ASC)), provided the minimum area of consideration in section 23.23b, paragraph 4
and the criteria in section 23.23b, paragraphs 1a through c are met.
b. The basis for the decision to advertise using a non-standard area must be
documented on the Outreach Plan. Examples of non-standard areas include:
(1) Zone-wide. Units that serve more than one unit (for example, multiple forests,
multiple regions).
(2) Local commuting area.
4. Minimum Area of Consideration and Announcement Timeframes.
a. The minimum area of consideration for supervisory GS-14/15 and all line officer
positions is service-wide. There is no minimum area of consideration for all other
positions.
b. The minimum timeframe for announcing all positions is 10 calendar days.
Vacancy announcements may not open or close on weekends or holidays.
23.25c - Referral List Timeframes
The maximum period of time for a referral list to be active is 60 calendar days, per the
following:
1. Expiration dates for referral lists are 15 calendar days from the date of issuance.
2. The Human Resources Management staff may grant an extension up to an additional
15 calendar days upon request from the hiring manager. This must be documented on the
referral list with the new expiration date.
3. An extension for an additional 15 calendar days may be requested by the hiring
manager and approved in writing by the line officer of the hiring unit; or, in the case of
the ASC, the Washington Office, and the staff director. If the hiring manager is the line
officer, the extension must be approved by the next higher line officer.
WO INTERIM DIRECTIVE
EFFECTIVE DATE: 03/10/2014
DURATION: This interim directive expires on 09/10/2015.
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FSH 6109.12 – EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS HANDBOOK
CHAPTER 20 – INTERNAL PLACEMENT
4. One additional extension for no more than 15 calendar days, which must be approved
in writing by the next higher line officer, may be granted only for emergencies of national
scope such as hiring freezes, natural disasters, lapse in appropriations, and so forth.
5. Managers should keep the servicing human resources office informed when referral
lists have been extended. Extension requests must be submitted prior to the expiration
date and a copy of the approval must be provided to the servicing human resources office
and documented in the case file.
23.25c - Exhibit 01
Referral List Timeframes
Approving
Position
HRM Staff
Line officer of
the hiring unit or
Staff Director
(for WO and
ASC only)
Second higher
line officer level
15 day – Initial
issuance
15 day extension
(30 day total)
X
X
15 day extension
(45 day total)
15 day extension
(60 day total)
X*
X*
*Requests should be routed through Servicing Human Resources Office for review before
proceeding to the line officer for approval/disapproval.