Mechanism

Description

Intergovernmental Personal Act

The Intergovernmental Personal Act (IPA) provides for the temporary detail of employees from State and local governments, Indian Tribal governments, institutions of higher education, qualifying non-profit organizations, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC), etc., to an agency of the Federal Government. The goal of the IPA mobility program is to facilitate the movement of employees between eligible organizations/agencies in order to share personnel resources and thereby improve service to the public. Mobility assignments under this program can be used to achieve a number of objectives: share scarce expertise provide operating expertise in a counterpart organization provide general development expertise for the assignee improve management capabilities of agencies involved and improve management of programs and make more effective use of available resources strengthen intergovernmental understanding and serve as an effective means of involving State, local officials, etc., in developing and implementing Federal policies and programs assist in the transfer of new technology or encourage the use of research findings The overriding factors taken into account when mobility assignments are approved are the benefits to the participating organizations and the impact on the effective delivery of public services. In the process, assignees enhance their own professional development and that of those with whom they work.