Air Force Print News (Oct. 14, 2006): OPM offers non-DoD agencies direct-hire authority for hard-to-fill acquisition positions.

For almost one year, non-Department of Defense agencies have been given a direct-hire authority to attract candidates "with unusually high qualifications." The authority stems from regulations issued by the Office of Personnel Management and published in the Federal Register.

The direct-hire authority covers federal acquisition positions covered under title 41 of the United States Code when there is a severe shortage of well-qualified candidates, as defined in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The direct-hire regulations are effective Oct. 12, 2006, and will expire Sept. 30, 2007. The regulations can be found at <http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/E6-15016.htm>.