Pub. L. 111-8, div. H, tit. VII, sec. 7059

Sec. 7059. (a) Authority.—Up to $81,000,000 of the funds made available in title III of this Act to carry out the provisions of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, including funds appropriated under the heading “Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia”, may be used by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to hire and employ individuals in the United States and overseas on a limited appointment basis pursuant to the authority of sections 308 and 309 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980.(b) Restrictions.—(1) The number of individuals hired in any fiscal year pursuant to the authority contained in subsection (a) may not exceed 175.(2) The authority to hire individuals contained in subsection (a) shall expire on September 30, 2010.(c) Conditions.—The authority of subsection (a) may only be used to the extent that an equivalent number of positions that are filled by personal services contractors or other non-direct hire employees of USAID, who are compensated with funds appropriated to carry out part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, including funds appropriated under the heading “Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia”, are eliminated.(d) Priority Sectors.—In exercising the authority of this section, primary emphasis shall be placed on enabling USAID to meet personnel positions in technical skill areas currently encumbered by contractor or other non-direct hire personnel.(e) Consultations.—The USAID Administrator shall consult with the Committees on Appropriations at least on a quarterly basis concerning the implementation of this section.(f) Program Account Charged.—The account charged for the cost of an individual hired and employed under the authority of this section shall be the account to which such individual’s responsibilities primarily relate. Funds made available to carry out this section may be transferred to, and merged with, funds appropriated by this Act in title II under the heading “Operating Expenses”.(g) Foreign Service Limited Extensions.—Individuals hired and employed by USAID, with funds made available in this Act or prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs, pursuant to the authority of section 309 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, may be extended for a period of up to 4 years notwithstanding the limitation set forth in such section. 123 STAT. 897(h) Junior Officer Placement Authority.—Of the funds made available in subsection (a), USAID may use, in addition to funds otherwise available for such purposes, up to $15,000,000 to fund overseas support costs of members of the Foreign Service with a Foreign Service rank of four or below: Provided, That such authority is only used to reduce USAID’s reliance on overseas personal services contractors or other non-direct hire employees compensated with funds appropriated to carry out part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, including funds appropriated under the heading “Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia”.(i) Disaster Surge Capacity.—Funds appropriated under title III of this Act to carry out part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, including funds appropriated under the heading “Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia”, may be used, in addition to funds otherwise available for such purposes, for the cost (including the support costs) of individuals detailed to or employed by USAID whose primary responsibility is to carry out programs in response to natural disasters.(j) Technical Advisors.—Up to $13,500,000 of the funds made available by this Act in title III for assistance under the heading “Global Health and Child Survival”, may be used to reimburse United States Government agencies, agencies of State governments, institutions of higher learning, and private and voluntary organizations for the full cost of individuals (including for the personal services of such individuals) detailed or assigned to, or contracted by, as the case may be, USAID for the purpose of carrying out activities under that heading: Provided, That up to $3,500,000 of the funds made available by this Act for assistance under the heading “Development Assistance” may be used to reimburse such agencies, institutions, and organizations for such costs of such individuals carrying out other development assistance activities.(k) Personal Services Contractors.—Funds appropriated by this Act to carry out chapter 1 of part I, chapter 4 of part II, and section 667 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and title II of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, may be used by USAID to employ up to 25 personal services contractors in the United States, notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the purpose of providing direct, interim support for new or expanded overseas programs and activities managed by the agency until permanent direct hire personnel are hired and trained: Provided, That not more than 10 of such contractors shall be assigned to any bureau or office: Provided further, That such funds appropriated to carry out title II of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, may be made available only for personal services contractors assigned to the Office of Food for Peace.(l) Recruitment Strategy.—Not later than December 31, 2009, the USAID Administrator, after consulting with the Secretaries of Defense, Treasury, Agriculture, Interior, Energy, and Health and Human Services, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations a recruitment strategy for current and former employees from such departments and agencies who possess skills and/or overseas experience which would enhance USAID’s capacity to carry out its mission: Provided, That funds made available under the 123 STAT. 898 heading “Operating Expenses” in title II of this Act may be made available to implement the strategy described in the previous proviso, subject to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations.(m) Hiring Authority.—Notwithstanding section 307 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, the USAID Administrator may hire up to 30 individuals under the Development Leadership Initiative: Provided, That the authority contained in this subsection shall expire on September 30, 2010.