Excepted Service Authorities for EJ and EK Pay Plans

EJ and EK pay plans are unique to DOE. They were established under:

  • Section 621(d) of the DOE Organization Act (42 United States Code (U.S.C.), section 7231(d), hereafter referred to as pay plan EJ.
  • Section 3161(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995 (Pub.L. 103-337, October 5, 1994) and renewals, hereafter referred to as pay plan EK.

The EJ authority is used to enhance the Department’s recruitment and retention of highly qualified scientific, engineering, and professional and administrative personnel. Appointments made, and compensation fixed, under this authority may be made “without regard to the civil service laws” and are excepted from the provisions of Title V, United States Code.

The EK authority is used to enhance the Department’s recruitment and retention of highly qualified scientific, engineering, and technical personnel whose duties will relate to safety at defense nuclear facilities of the Department. Appointments made, and compensation fixed, under this authority may be made “without regard to the civil service laws” and are excepted from the provisions of Title V, United States Code. The EK authority is time-limited by law; and must be renewed. Current EK employees are not affected; however, a freeze on hiring is implemented if the time period expires prior to extension.

Excepted Service Authorities for EJ and EK Pay Plans Directive

 

Expert and Consultants

DOE uses experts and consultants to provide professional or technical expertise that does not exist or is not readily available within DOE or to perform services that are not of a continuing nature and/or could not be performed by DOE employees in competitive or other permanent full-time positions.

Employment of Experts and Consultants Directive