Opportunity
Federal Register #2026-21316
OPM and OMB final rule revises senior professional performance appraisal requirements
Buyer
Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Posted
October 19, 2026
Identifier
2026-21316
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a final rule revising performance appraisal requirements for federal senior professionals. - Government entities: OPM and OMB; no sub-agency or office details are provided. - The rule applies to senior-level (SL) and scientific or professional (ST) employees, collectively called senior professionals. - It establishes a dedicated appraisal framework more closely aligned with the Senior Executive Service system and eliminates existing senior professional appraisal programs. - Notable requirements include performance planning and reviews, training, increased oversight, agency-level review of ratings and awards, and use of appraisal results in personnel decisions. The framework permits standardized distributions of performance rating levels. - This is a regulatory action, not a procurement opportunity. No OEMs, vendors, products, services, quantities, or part numbers are specified.
Description
OPM and OMB are issuing a final rule to strengthen performance appraisal of senior-level (SL) and scientific or professional (ST) employees, collectively referred to as senior professionals. It establishes a new subpart dedicated to senior professional performance appraisal and aligns the process more closely with Senior Executive Service performance appraisal regulations. The rule eliminates senior professional appraisal programs, removes the prohibition on standardized distributions of performance rating levels, and enhances oversight of the appraisal process.