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Fiscal Year 2024 Quality Step Increase Instructions

FSIS Notice 39-24
Issue Date Oct 03, 2024
Expiration Date Oct 01, 2025
Full Notice
FSIS Notice 39-24
  1. PURPOSE
  2. This notice provides instructions on how FSIS Program Areas are to complete Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Quality Step Increase (QSI) nominations for their employees. Departmental Regulation (DR) 4040-430, Employee Performance and Awards sets forth the policies for the USDA QSI process. This notice covers the FY 2024 performance rating cycle, ending September 30, 2024.
  3. ELIGIBILITY
    1. QSIs are reserved for the most exceptional performance. No single accomplishment merits a QSI; it may be granted only to those employees who have demonstrated sustained exceptional performance, commensurate with the classification of the employee's position, over at least a 12-month period in the same grade and type of position.
    2. Employees are to meet the following criteria to be considered eligible for a QSI:
      1. Be at the full performance level of their position;
      2. Have performed in the same grade and type of position for at least 12 months before the end of the appraisal cycle;
      3. Be below step 10 of their grade level;
      4. Have demonstrated sustained performance of high quality and received a rating of record of at least Fully Successful in FY 2024; and
      5. Not have received a QSI within the previous 52 weeks.
  4. RECOMMENDATIONS
    1. Each FSIS Program Area is provided with allocations for the number of QSIs that may be granted. The allocations vary annually. Requests for additional QSI allocations may be made to the Office of Human Resources and will be considered by the Office of the Administrator on a case-by-case basis.
    2. Each Program Area is to submit a Form AD-3115, Recommendation and Authorization of Quality Step Increase for each QSI nominee by the due date communicated to the FSIS Management Council via e-mail, which will also include their QSI allocations.
    3. The nominee's first level or second level supervisor is to prepare Form AD-3115.
    4. The AA is to provide final approval for their respective Program Area's QSI nominations.
  5. SUBMITTING RECOMMENDATIONS
    Designated Program Area points of contact are to submit completed and signed QSI packages to the FSIS Awards mailbox at FSISAwards@usda.gov by November 7, 2024.
  6. QUESTIONS
    Refer questions regarding this notice to FSISHR1@usda.gov with the subject "QSI Policy."