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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

19.202:  Special Domestic Assignments

Popular Name:  Pearson Program

Objectives:  (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 about 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.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

19.202 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 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.

Credentials/Documentation:  None.

19.202 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication 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.

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.

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.

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.

19.202 RELATED PROGRAMS:

19.202 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

19.202 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  BUREAU OF PERSONNEL, DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Type of Assistance:  Provision of Specialized Services.

Obligations:  Not separately identifiable.

Budget Account Number:  19-0113-0-1-153.

Authorization:  Foreign Service Act of 1980, Section 503, Chapter 5, Public Law 96-465.

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.

19.202 INFO 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 2336, NS, Bureau of Personnel, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520. Phone: (202) 647-9526.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

19.202 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.

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.

19.202 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.