4507. Awarding of ranks in the Senior Executive Service.

§ 4501. Definitions

For the purpose of the chapter

(1) "agency" means

(A) an Executive agency;

(B) the Administrative Office of the United States Courts; (C) the Library of Congress;

(D) the Office of the Architect of the Capitol;

(E) the Botanic Garden;

(F) the Government Printing Office; and

(G) the government of the District of Columbia;

but does not include

(i) the Tennessee Valley Authority; or

(ii) the Central Bank for Cooperatives;

(2) "employee" means—

(A) an employee as defined by section 2105 of this title but does not include an employee covered by the merit pay system established under section 5402 of this title; and

(B) an individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia; and

(3) "Government" means the Government of the United States and the government of the District of Columbia.

(Pub. L. 89-554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 442; amended Pub. L. 95-454, Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1183.)

$4502. General provisions

(a) Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, a cash award under this chapter may not exceed $10,000.

(b) When the head of an agency certifies to the Office of Personnel Management that the suggestion, invention, superior accomplishment, or other meritorious effort for which the award is proposed is highly exceptional and unusually outstanding, a cash award in excess of $10,000 but not in excess of $25,000 may be granted with the approval of the Office.

(c) A cash award under this chapter is in addition to the regular pay of the recipient. Acceptance of a cash award under this chapter constitutes an agreement that the use by the Government of an idea, method, or device for which the award is made does not form the

basis of a further claim of any nature against the Government by the employee, his heirs, or assigns.

(d) A cash award to, and expense for the honorary recognition of, an employee may be paid from the fund or appropriation available to the activity primarily benefiting or the various activities benefiting. The head of the agency concerned determines the amount to be paid by each activity for an agency award under section 4503 of this title. The President determines the amount to be paid by each activity for a Presidential award under section 4504 of this title. (Pub. L. 89-554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 442; amended Pub. L. 95-454, Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1183.)

§ 4503. Agency awards

The head of an agency may pay a cash award to, and incur necessary expense for the honorary recognition of, an employee who

(1) by his suggestion, invention, superior accomplishment, or other personal effort contributes to the efficiency, economy, or other improvement of Government operations or achieves a significant reduction in paperwork; or

(2) performs a special act or service in the public interest in connection with or related to his official employment.

(Pub. L. 89-554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 443; amended Pub. L. 95-454, Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1180.)

§ 4504. Presidential awards

The President may pay a cash award to, and incur necessary expense for the honorary recognition of, an employee who—

(1) by his suggestion, invention, superior accomplishment, or other personal effort contributes to the efficiency, economy, or other improvement of Government operations or achieves a significant reduction in paperwork; or

(2) performs an exceptionally meritorious special act or service in the public interest in connection with or related to his official employment.

A Presidential award may be in addition to an agency award under section 4503 of this title. (Pub. L. 89-554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 443; amended Pub. L. 95-454, Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1180.)

§ 4505. Awards to former employees

An agency may pay or grant an award under this chapter notwithstanding the death or separation from the service of the employee concerned, if the suggestion, invention, superior accomplishment, other personal effort, or special act or service in the public interest for which the award is proposed was made or performed while the employee was in the employ of the Government. (Pub. L. 89–554. Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 443.)

§ 4506. Regulations

The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations and instructions under which the agency awards program set forth by this chapter shall be carried out. (Pub. L. 89-554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 443; amended Pub. L. 95-454, Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1184.)

§ 4507. Awarding of ranks in the Senior Executive Service

(a) For the purpose of this section, "agency," "senior executive," and "career appointee" have the meanings set forth in section 3132 (a) of this title.

(b) Each agency shall submit annually to the Office recommendations of career appointees in the agency to be awarded the rank of Meritorious Executive or Distinguished Executive. The recommendations may take into account the individual's performance over a period of years. The Office shall review such recommendations and provide to the President recommendations as to which of the agency recommended appointees should receive such rank.

(c) During any fiscal year, the President may, subject to subsection (d) of this section, award to any career appointee recommended by the Office the rank of

(1) Meritorious Executive, for sustained accomplishment, or (2) Distinguished Executive, for sustained extraordinary accomplishment.

A career appointee awarded a rank under paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection shall not be entitled to be awarded that rank during the following 4 fiscal years.

(d) During any fiscal year

(1) the number of career appointees awarded the rank of Meritorious Executive may not exceed 5 percent of the Senior Executive Service; and

(2) the number of career appointees awarded the rank of Distinguished Executive may not exceed 1 percent of the Senior Executive Service.

(e) (1) Receipt by a career appointee of the rank of Meritorious Executive entitles such individual to a lump-sum payment of $10,000, which shall be in addition to the basic pay paid under section 5382 of this title or any award paid under section 5384 of this title.

(2) Receipt by a career appointee of the rank of Distinguished Executive entitles the individual to a lump-sum payment of $20,000, which shall be in addition to the basic pay paid under section 5382 of this title or any award paid under section 5384 of this title. (Added, Pub. L. 95-454, Oct. 13, 1978; 92 Stat. 1170.)