Special Domestic Assignments

 

(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.

Deleted 12/27/2005 (19.202 is not a grant program. It is an in-house temporary detail program for foreign service officers. It only benefits the employee. There is no grant issued to an individual or an organization.) 19.202 BUREAU OF PERSONNEL, DEPARTMENT OF STATE Provision of Specialized Services. 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. Foreign Service Act of 1980, Section 503, Chapter 5, Public Law 96-465. 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. Foreign Service Officers, State and local governments, and U.S. Territories will benefit. None. 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. 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. Once the proposal is approved, the Department of State will endeavor to identify an interested and qualified officer for the position. 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. Proposals are approved or disapproved immediately. In the case of approved proposals, however, there may be a lengthy delay in identifying an appropriate officer. Not applicable. 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. 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. 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. The supervisory officer in the host organization must prepare an annual performance evaluation on the Foreign Service Officer, due annually by April 15. None. None. 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. The reimbursement to the State Department is usually paid as a lump sum, although there can be flexibility in the payment arrangement. None. 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. http://www.state.gov 19-0113-0-1-153. Not separately identifiable. At any one time, 10 or fewer Foreign Service Officers are assigned to State and local governments and related organizations. Additional information on the program is available from the State Department's Office of Career Development and Training in the Bureau of Personnel. 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.