{"data":{"id":"us/5-cfr-337.201","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"5 CFR 337.201","heading":"Coverage and purpose.","body":"OPM will permit an agency with delegated examining authority under 5 U.S.C. 1104(a)(2) to use direct-hire authority under 5 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3) for a permanent or nonpermanent position or group of positions in the competitive service at GS-15 (or equivalent) and below, if OPM determines that there is either a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need for such positions. It is not required that this direct-hire authority be exercised by a delegated examining unit. Requests for direct-hire authority must be submitted by the agency's Chief Human Capital Officer (or equivalent) at the agency headquarters level. OPM will determine the length of the direct-hire authority based on the justification.","path":["Title 5—Administrative Personnel","CHAPTER I—OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT","SUBCHAPTER B—CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS","PART 337—EXAMINING SYSTEM","Subpart B—Direct-Hire Authority"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-5.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:23:53Z","sha256":"1f0a0ef1cc065d99a874942ccf12c21d06293926467ab071ddb104cde5d3ccc8","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/5-cfr-337.102","next":"us/5-cfr-337.202"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}