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IFPM and FS FPM

IFPM and FS FPM. February 2008 update. Implementation Process Steps. Complexity Analysis Position Identification Determination of Qualifications Notification of Qualification Status Determination of Competencies Assess Of Employee Development Needs Initiate Individual Development Plans

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IFPM and FS FPM

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  1. IFPM and FS FPM February 2008 update

  2. Implementation Process Steps • Complexity Analysis • Position Identification • Determination of Qualifications • Notification of Qualification Status • Determination of Competencies • Assess Of Employee Development Needs • Initiate Individual Development Plans • Monitor Employee • Evaluation for Conversion • Removal from current position

  3. Education Specialized Experience NWCG Incident Mgmt Qualifications Additional Required Training Core Competencies Red = the parts that may not apply to all positions Covered positions may have 5 parts to complete

  4. Education = GS-401 Series IFPM: applies to Forest level GS-11+ FS FPM: no additional positions Specialized Training: IFPM: Applies to Forest Fire Chiefs, Center Managers and Hotshot Superintendents NWCG Qualifications and Previous Experience: IFPM and FS FPM applies to all covered positions IFPM: Forest Fire Chiefs must have had C&G experience For Region 5 Positions

  5. Field level: GS-462 Hotshot Superintendents; Helitack Superintendents; Engine Captains; Senior FF Forest level: GS-462 Assistant Center Manager; IA Dispatchers Forest level: GS-401 Chief; GS-11 Fuels/Fire Planner; GS-11 Prevention; ECC Manager Regional level: GS-462 Redding Hotshot Superintendent Regional level: GS-401 Director R5 IFPM Covered Positions

  6. R5 FS FPM Covered Positions • Forest Deputy Chief • Division Chiefs • Battalion Chiefs – suppression, prevention and fuels • Prevention – (GS-5, 6 or 7) • Hotshot Captains and Squad Bosses • Helitack Captains and Squad Bosses • Type 2 Crew Supervisors and Squad Bosses

  7. Region 5 positions not covered by either program • Smokejumpers • AFEO, GS-6 • Most of the aviation positions • GACCs • Most of Regional Office FAM personnel

  8. IFPM Initiated: October 1, 2004 Completion date: October 1, 2009 FS FPM Initiates: October 1, 2008 Completion date: October 1, 2013 After Completion Date: requirements are a “condition of hire”. Incumbents meet all requirements and Incumbents in position for 3+ year meet all position core competencies Implementation schedules

  9. Past Regional Forester Implementation Decision Points Some implementation decisions are made at the “Unit” level: • March 11, 2005, the WO defined the “Forest” as lowest “Unit” level • After consultation with the WO, our Regional Forester determined the “Unit” in R5 to be the region • Primarily for consistency • Avoid additional litigation, grievances and ULPs • This past decision will be discussed at April 2008 RLT

  10. RF Implementation Decision Points, continued Formed the R5 IFPM Working Group Goal: Streamline Process Objectives: • Maximize use of existing processes • Coordinate due dates • Develop support items to make the task easier to accomplish and lessen impacts on Forests

  11. RF Implementation Decision Points, continued All R5 Forests justify being in the Fire Program Management Standards Complexity Ratings were performed by regional committee for R5: all Forests are HIGH complexity

  12. GACCs do not have direct responsibility for initial attack and therefore are excluded from IFPM Identification of affected positions Through use of R5 Fire Vacancy Database Identification of position descriptions Used R5 standard position descriptions RF Implementation Decision Points, continued

  13. RF Implementation Decision Points, continued R5 decided to not include any GS-401 positions at the district level Decision based upon: • Budget capability • average cost: $12,000 to $25,000/year per person for two years to achieve educational credits • Sheer number of positions • Affects an additional 157 positions • Possibility of affecting Division Chief grade • Total 90 positions

  14. RF Implementation Decision Points, continued • Initial Incumbent Declarations • Hard copy for GS-11s+ • Most did not qualify due to education or lack of additional training • Automated for GS-5 thru 9 via IQCS • Majority qualified

  15. Challenges identified and solved Focused on creating a candidate pool for the future: • Developed a training certification program through Humboldt State University • Dr. Neil Sughari, RO-FAM is liaison • Working with various colleges and universities to have courses on college transcripts

  16. OPM Regulation February 15, 2005 Affects who can be placed into a GS-401 Series. • All education credits must be on a college transcripts • Invalidated use of NWCG courses unless on a transcript • Credits must “lead toward a major” • Most likely translation – Upper Division • OPM will accept Technical Fire Management Certificate of completion

  17. OPM Regulation February 15, 2005, continued • This regulation affected more than just those in IFPM • USDA Graduate School • Any incumbent in a GS-401 positions • Regardless if included in IFPM or not

  18. Per OPM, for a GS-401 position placement prior to February 15, 2005 • If the incumbent used NWCG courses(not on a transcript) to qualify for the GS-401 series can remain in their job/series; • However, they may not qualify for future GS-401 positions until they acquire adequate replacement credits.

  19. Per OPM, for a GS-401 position placement after to February 15, 2005 If an individual used NWCG courses was to qualify for the GS-0401 series …per OPM… • the incumbent was erroneously placed into their position, and • the agency has an 18 month grace period to get them “accredited” credits as part of the “Get Well Plan” that HCM is developing. • Obtaining this concession from OPM took a lot of effort and USDA assistance

  20. OPM wanted to ensure that all Incumbents in existing GS-401 positions meet education requirements based on a review of college transcripts This review was whether the incumbent is in an IFPM covered position or not Included more than Fire positions Prompted WO letter December 2007 asking current GS-401 to provide documentation on how they were qualified for their current position Other OPM actions that appears to be adding to the confusion

  21. What constitutes the education credits? Bottom-line: it’s a national issue and it’s not settled • OPM and WO interpretations vary widely • USFS is working on a better, more flexible definition • Agency has postpone review the results of the December 2007 letter request until the interpretations on what is viable for “education credits leading towards a major” are solidified

  22. What we do know: 24 educational credits are required; Credits must be on college transcripts When applying for a professional series positions, applicants should always include all college transcripts What we are working on: Are all 24 credits upper division? Most likely What does the term “leading toward a major” mean? Largest area of debate Most of our vacant professional series positions certificates are on hold until we know What constitutes the education credits, continued

  23. What happens now? Regional Forester will host a discussion of IFPM and FS FPM with the April 2008 RLT • The intent to bring everyone up to speed and buy-in on regional application • Review and gain buy-in on past decisions

  24. What happens now, continued Assuming the Region remains the Unit, Regional IFPM Working Group may join forces with the R5 LOT to develop regional strategies to enable all incumbents to: • Meet GS-401 standards • Ensure that NWCG qualifications are met • Provide additional required training

  25. What happens now, continued Once the interpretations are concreted into policy… • Incumbent Declarations for all incumbents in a GS-401and 460 will have to be resubmitted and reviewed. • In a some cases, augmentation of the previously submitted Declaration may be sufficient • This encompasses about 70 positions regionally

  26. Problem Areas Incumbent Declarations: Per OPM, these need to be signed by a “professional mentor”. This means… • Forest Fire Chiefs in: • GS-460 positions • GS-401 positions (after review how/when placed in position) • Line Officers are in an administrative series and cannot sign • Who signs Forest Fire Chiefs’ Declaration will have to be determined

  27. Individual Develop Plans • For all incumbents who do not meet position NWCG qualifications, an IDP is to be developed • Examples are available on the IFPM website

  28. Individual Develop Plans, continued IFPM group of positions in R5 that must have and Lack currency for their qualifications are the Forest Fuels Specialists and Fire Planners. • Most of R5’s GS-11, Fire Planners, are in Fuels Specialist position descriptions and therefore covered under IFPM • Per the last IQCS database run, these groups have the largest need to gain qualifications as a RXB2, TFLD and ICT3 • Working with the Regional Training to serve as clearinghouse for opportunities

  29. Core Competencies Position competencies build on one another from the GS-5 upward. • As people move from GS-5 up through the grade levels, this documentation is key The IFPM website does have “checklists” for each position that a Forest Fire Chief can use to determine if an incumbent meets • The FRQC process to review incumbents and document via letter is quicker and more effective

  30. Documentation in IQCS_IFPM Module The following items are recorded in IQCS to document Completion of the IFPM requirements: • Education, • NWCG qualifications, • Additional training and • Completion of core competencies Only IFPM covered positions should have information in this portion of the program • An IQCS_FS_FPM module is expected to be used in the field this fall

  31. The original IFPM “due date” for completion is October 1, 2009. The OPM deadline for all incumbents in GS-401 positions to meet educational standards is June 2009. The agency will attempt to make it all work. The agency may look at “opting out” of the GS-401 depending on the costs and/or political ramifications If R5 remains the Unit, a regional strategy that enrolls all incumbents can be used as the “agency response to ensure compliance”. What happens if we run out of time?

  32. Questions?

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