(1) To allow State and local governments and related
organizations to utilize the experience and expertise of Foreign Service
Officers; and (2) to permit Foreign Service Officers at approximately
mid-career to be assigned to positions with substantial program management
responsibility and to become reacquainted with important domestic issues as
they impact upon international affairs, and to contribute to the Department of
State's recruitment and outreach goals.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Provision of Specialized Services. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
A Foreign Service Officer may be assigned duties for any
purpose mutually agreed upon by the Department of State and the host
organization. Frequently, officers assigned under this program serves as
special assistants to governors, mayors, city managers and county
commissioners. They have also been assigned to a State department of social
services, a regional local government innovation group, a State league of
towns and cities, an international trade mart, a university, and to the Pan
American Games organizing group.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: A
member of the Foreign Service may be assigned for duty in the United States
(or in any territory or possession of the United States and the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico) with a State or local government, a public or private
nonprofit organization (including an educational institution), or a Member or
office of the Congress may apply.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
Foreign Service Officers, State and local governments, and U.S. Territories
will benefit.
Pre-application Coordination:
Potential applicants are invited to discuss possible requests with the Office
of Career Development and Training in the Bureau of Personnel prior to
submitting a written proposal. This program is excluded from coverage under
E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure:
There is no application form. An information sheet on the program is available
from the Office of Career Development and Training in the Bureau of Personnel.
Eligible organizations should submit their proposals in writing; two to three
pages are usually adequate.
Award Procedure: Once the
proposal is approved, the Department of State will endeavor to identify an
interested and qualified officer for the position.
Deadlines: There is no
deadline. Although assignments may be made throughout the year, most
assignments will be arranged to begin in the summer months when foreign
service officers normally rotate to new positions. A lead-time of 8 to 12
months is normally required in order to identify and assign an appropriate
officer.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:
Proposals are approved or disapproved immediately. In the case of approved
proposals, however, there may be a lengthy delay in identifying an appropriate
officer.
Appeals: Not applicable.
Renewals: Assignments are
made initially for 1 year. Subject to concurrence by the host organization,
the Foreign Service Officer and the needs of the Department of State, the
assignment may be extended for up to an additional year.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements:
For assignments begun after October 1, 1986, the host organization must
reimburse the State Department $10,000 annually. (This sum may be increased
periodically.) There are no other costs to the host organization except that
it must pay for the job-related expenses of the Foreign Service Officer.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:
The reimbursement to the State Department is usually paid as a lump sum,
although there can be flexibility in the payment arrangement.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: The supervisory
officer in the host organization must prepare an annual performance evaluation
on the Foreign Service Officer, due annually by April 15.
Audits: None.
Records: None.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification:
19-0113-0-1-153.
Obligations: Not separately
identifiable.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
At any one time, 10 or fewer Foreign Service Officers are assigned to State
and local governments and related organizations.
The Department of State receives more requests for the
assignment of officers than it is able to fill. Eventually, however, it has
been able to assign officers to more than half of the organizations that have
submitted written proposals. To date, over 130 mid-career officers have been
assigned to positions with State and local governments and other qualifying
organizations. Job assignments have varied but have typically involved
substantial program development or program management responsibilities,
including coordination with city, county, and State authorities, and Federal
agencies.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Additional information on the program is available from
the State Department's Office of Career Development and Training in the Bureau
of Personnel.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office:
None.
Headquarters Office: Mary
Ann Thomas, Program Coordinator, Office of Career Development and Assignments,
Career Development and Training Staff, (PER/CDA/SL/CDT), Room 2419, NS, Bureau
of Personnel, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520. Telephone: (202)
647-3822.
Web Site Address: http://www.state.gov
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Officers have been appointed as special assistants to
State governors, mayors and the directors of State agencies. Officers have
also been assigned to a State conference of municipalities, an association of
community colleges, a regional commission, a public interest group, and an
international trade mart.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
The Department of State is particularly interested in
assigning officers to positions which offer considerable challenge and
management responsibility involving personnel, programs, or both. Proposals,
which have a direct relationship to international affairs is most likely to be
successful in attracting candidates for the position.
