Position Designation System and Automated Tool

Position Designation Automated Tool (PDT)

SECTION 731.106(A) OF TITLE 5, CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS STATES, "AGENCY HEADS MUST DESIGNATE EVERY COVERED POSITION WITHIN THE AGENCY AT A HIGH, MODERATE, OR LOW RISK LEVEL AS DETERMINED BY THE POSITION'S POTENTIAL FOR ADVERSE IMPACT TO THE EFFICIENCY OR INTEGRITY OF THE SERVICE." SECTION 731.106(C)(2) OF TITLE 5, STATES, "ALL POSITIONS SUBJECT TO INVESTIGATION UNDER THIS PART MUST ALSO RECEIVE A SENSITIVITY DESIGNATION OF SPECIAL-SENSITIVE, CRITICAL-SENSITIVE, OR NONCRITICAL-SENSITIVE, WHEN APPROPRIATE." SENSITIVITY LEVELS ARE DISCUSSED FURTHER IN PART 732 OF TITLE 5.

Proper position designation is the foundation of an effective and consistent suitability and personnel security program. The process determines, through the evaluation of National Security and suitability requirements, what type of investigation is required and how closely an applicant or incumbent is screened for a position. In order to ensure a systematic, dependable, and uniform way of making position designations, OPM provides the Position Designation Automated Tool (PDT) for those individuals within agencies charged with position designation responsibilities. For a brief overview of the PDT, and the relationship of position designation to reform efforts, please see Federal Investigations Notice (FIN) 10-06 [305 KB], Position Designation Requirements.

Click here to use the most current version of the Position Designation Automated Tool (PDT)

(For a downloadable version of the PDT, please contact Systems Access Support at (724) 794-5612, extension 4600.)

Position Designation System (PDS)

Before using the PDT, designators should first develop a thorough familiarity and understanding of the PDS. The success and consistency of the PDT are directly connected to the user's understanding of the various possible selections for "suitability requirements" and "duties" available within the PDS. Without fully understanding these "suitability requirements" and "duties," users could inadvertently fail to make appropriate selections early in the PDT process, and this would impact the accuracy of the final position designation. A full understanding of the PDS and proper application of the PDT will ensure consistency.

Should you need access to a hard-copy version of the PDS, you may select the link below to download the most current version. Links to additional information regarding position designation requirements, a glossary of terms, and a "PDS Sample Survey" are also provided below. The "PDS Sample Survey" is a sample inquiry used to obtain necessary information for position designation from position managers, supervisors, or leads, when that information is missing from position descriptions, and it may be modified for agency use as needed.

FIN 10-06, Position Designation Requirements [305 KB]
Position Designation System October 2010 [270 KB]
PDS Glossary October 2010 [114 KB]
PDS Sample Survey October 2010 [55 KB]

If you have questions concerning position designation, please contact Suitability Adjudications at (724) 794-5612, extension 7400. If you are interested in Position Designation training, please view the Agency Training portion of the FIS website.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Recruiting, Retaining and Honoring a World-Class Workforce to Serve the American People

Federal Investigative Services