5 C.F.R. § 1330.402
Definitions.
Cite as 5 C.F.R. § 1330.402 (2026)
In this subpart—
Appraisal system
means the policies, practices, and procedures an agency establishes under 5 U.S.C. chapter 43 and 5 CFR part 430, subparts B and C, or other applicable legal authority, for planning, monitoring, developing, evaluating, and rewarding employee performance. This includes appraisal systems and appraisal programs as defined at § 430.203 and performance management systems as defined at § 430.303.
GPRA
means the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993.
OMB
means the Office of Management and Budget.
OPM
means the Office of Personnel Management.
Outstanding performance
means performance that substantially exceeds the normally high performance expected of any senior employee, as evidenced by exceptional accomplishments or contributions to the agency's performance.
Performance evaluation
means the comparison of the actual performance of senior employees against their performance expectations and may take into account their contribution to agency performance, where appropriate.
Performance expectations
means critical and other performance elements and performance requirements that constitute the senior executive performance plans (as defined in § 430.303) established for senior executives, the performance elements and standards that constitute the performance plans (as defined in § 430.203) established for senior professionals, or other appropriate means authorized under performance appraisal systems not covered by 5 U.S.C. chapter 43 for communicating what a senior employee is expected to do and the manner in which he/she is expected to do it, and may include contribution to agency performance, where appropriate.
Program performance measures
means results-oriented measures of performance, whether at the agency, component, or function level, which include, for example, measures under the Government Performance and Results Act.
PRB
means Performance Review Board, as described at § 430.310.
Relative performance
means the performance of a senior employee with respect to the performance of other senior employees, including their contribution to agency performance, where appropriate, as determined by the application of a certified appraisal system.
Senior employee
means a senior executive or a senior professional.
Senior executive
means a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) paid under 5 U.S.C. 5383.
Senior professional
means an employee in a senior-level (SL) or scientific or professional position (ST) paid under 5 U.S.C. 5376.
- Cross-references to the US Code
- 5:5376.5:5383.
- Cross-references to the CFR
- 430.203430.303430.303.430.310.