Technical Questions
Questions and answers
Performance awards, as the terminology is used, refer to cash awards granted on the basis of the rating of record, which generally summarizes the employee's performance over an extended period of time, i.e., the full appraisal period. The more important flexibility now in the regulations is that the contribution that may merit a special act or service award is no longer defined as a "non-recurring" contribution. This new flexibility should make it easier for agencies to design award programs that recognize the successful or improved accomplishment of work projects that by their nature can be considered "recurring contributions."