SUGGESTED APPROACHES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF FEDERAL RETIRE. SYSTEM ACT OF 1986

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP89-00066R000800060006-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 21, 2012
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: June 25, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/21: CIA-RDP89-00066R000800060006-5
MEMORANDUM FOR:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
25 June 1986
Suggested Approaches for Implementation of the
Federal Employee Retire. System Act of 1986
1. Overview of Requirements
a. The scope and complexity of the Federal Employees
Retirement System (FERS) coupled with the relatively short
implementation dates for the several sub-programs that
comprise the overall system, can present a threatening
array of requirements when viewed from the perspective of
the FERS totality. The institution of changes or new
programs mandated by comprehensive legislation of this
scope and complexity requires "breaking down" the primary
programmatic features of the legislation in order to
effectively develop and institute the required actions for
change. In most complicated legislation of this type, the
necessity to breakdown the primary elements for action can
create additional problems in re-integrating the
sub-elements into a cohesive and compatible system.
The FERS Act of 1986, while somewhat fragmented in its
presentation of many facets of the programs and provisions
which must be implemented, is in the main structured in the
form of interlinking but distinctly separate sub-systems
(e.g., a new Basic Defined Benefit Plan, a new Thrift
Savings Plan, etc.).
This fact facilitates the implementation effort by
providing an ability to focus on discrete sub-systems/
elements and the identification of tasking requirements and
development of the needed procedures and processes required
to implement the FERS within the Agency.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/21: CIA-RDP89-00066R000800060006-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/21: CIA-RDP89-00066R000800060006-5
SUBJECT: Suggested Approaches for Implementation of the
Federal Employee Retire System Act of 1986
The sheer volume of requirements and primary and
secondary tasking required to fully implement the Act of
1986 cannot be understated. Because of this it is
essential that implementation actions be tightly structured
in a detailed managerial/work force action plan to assure
full coverage of all requirements, prioritization of
actions, and maximum use of available personnel resources
in order to meet the implementation dates established in
the Act.
b. The FERS Act of 1986 could be "broken down" for
work group team taskings in various ways but a suggested
approach would be to identify basic categories of tasking
into the following primary sub-systems:
(1) Statutory authorities and administrative
provisions applicable to the DCI, the Director, Office
of Personnel Management and other U.S. Government
officials designated within the Act.
(2) Basic Defined Benefit Plan (the FERS).
(3) Special Program for CIA personnel meeting
special criteria (FERS-CIA).
(4) Provisions applicable to the Civil Service
Retirement and CIA Retirement and Disability Systems
(CSRS/CIARDS).
(5) Capital Accommodation Plan (Thrift Savings
Plan).
These primary tasking elements would then be broken
down into prioritized sequences of programmatic, processing
or procedural action requirements applicable to the
specific area of effort. Working Groups "team" personnel
should be the focal point for initial identification of
requirements as cited in the legislation. The results of
these efforts should be expanded through input by
appropriate operating component personnel who are or will.
be responsible for servicing the new program or provisions
when operative.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/21: CIA-RDP89-00066R000800060006-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/21: CIA-RDP89-00066R000800060006-5
SUBJECT: Suggested Approaches for Implementation of the
Federal Employee Retire System Act of 1986
It is quite evident that many of the primary tasking
.elements such as the Basic Defined Benefit Plan and the
Thrift Savings Plan will require concurrent and joint input
from the Offices of Personnel, Finance and Information
Technology. Some tasking many involve only one component.
2. Specific Considerations
a. It must be recognized that varying action on all
implementation tasks must be initiated in the same general
time frames. However, a sequence of priorities for action
must be established not only between the identified primary
elements, but also among the several sub-tasking within
each primary area of action. These priorities are dictated
by the following:
(1) The statutory final implementation dates for
specific actions as defined within the FERS Act of 1986
(2) The functional need to complete certain basic
tasking requirements before work can begin or
development of the next sequence of actions.
(3) The requirement that all internal and external
processes and procedures must be in place, tested, and
ready to function before the implementation dates
prescribed by the Act.
b. A managerial oversight and monitoring mechanism
must be installed that permits the Policy Group and Working
Group leadership to evaluate progress against time-frame
schedules and milestones, provide guidance and assistance
to the Working Group "teams" and permit "status of action"
reporting to senior Agency managers.
c. It is important that formalized "Action Plans" for
each primary tasking element be designed which identifies
each sub-tasking requirement together with it's priority
statu and a date schedule for phased and final completion.
A sample or model of such an action plan can be drafted and
may be useful for your consideration.
d. Prior to launching the main implementation effort a
critical requirement of first priority is the need to
provide an "expert" "in-house" source of knowledge and
interpretation of the FERS Act of 1986 available to the
Policy Group and the Working Group.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/21: CIA-RDP89-00066R000800060006-5
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/21: CIA-RDP89-00066R000800060006-5
SUBJECT: Suggested Approaches for Implementation of the
Federal Employee Retire System Act of 1986
At least one primary and one back-up OP Officer working
with the Working Group should be identified as staff
experts on the Act. The availability of analytical
interpretation materials that may be obtainable through
outside sources should be checked. Discussions with
legislation staff personnel from the Congressional
Retirement Oversight Committees may provide useful insights
on specific issues within the Act. In past years, OPM
routinely provided hand-outs, seminars, and training
sessions on new statutory programs of this dimension. It's
worth contacting OPM although the informal word is that OPM
is not preparing to provide these services.
Since the FERS Act of 1986 is complicated legislation
and open to misinterpretation, early clarification of all
questionable provisions is essential in order to provide a
common base of understanding for the Policy and Working
Groups.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/21: CIA-RDP89-00066R000800060006-5