General Questions

The Level 2 summary rating was never contemplated to signify anything but marginal performance. There has always been a presumption that a "pass" would merit the employees their within-grade increases and full retention rights in a reduction in force. Regulations require a Level 3 (Fully Successful or equivalent) rating of record to reach the acceptable level of competence determination needed for a within-grade increase and to receive all retention rights in a reduction in force. There have been no compelling arguments for lowering the threshold for those personnel actions and those rights to marginal, rather than fully successful, performance.