Department of Defense
Information Technology Exchange Program Pilot
Fact Sheet
Background: Section 1110 of the National Defense Authorization Act, fiscal year 2010 (FY10), (Public Law 111-84), authorizes the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish a Pilot Program for the Temporary Exchange of Information Technology Personnel (herein referred to as the Information Technology Exchange Program (ITEP) pilot. This statute authorizes the temporary detail of DoD and private sector employees who work in the field of information technology to participate in an exchange between the two sectors. The ITEP pilot is not a 1-for-1 exchange of personnel, but rather an opportunity for the exchange of knowledge, experience and skills between the DoD and private sectors. DoD Components may lend DoD employees to private sector organizations, accept employees from private sector organizations or have simultaneous participation from both a DoD Component and a private sector organization.
The Office of the DoD CIO (Information Management and IT & IM Workforce) serves as the DoD ITEP Pilot Program Administrator and provides implementing guidance to the DoD Components.
General Requirements:
- A detail shall be for a period of not less than 3 months and not more than 1 year, and may be extended in 3-month increments for a total of not more than 1 additional year by DoD Component authorized approving official and private sector organizations with approval from the DoD ITEP Pilot Program Administrator. No detail may commence after September 30, 2013
- Before an ITEP pilot detail begins, the DoD Component authorized approving official, the private sector organization authorized approving official and the participating employee must complete a written three-party agreement which describes the rights, responsibilities and other terms of the agreement. In no event may more than 10 employees participate in ITEP details at any given time.
- At least 20% of the ITEP pilot participants must be from small businesses
To be eligible for a detail both DoD and private sector IT employees must:
- Work in the field of information technology
- Be considered an exceptional employee (Performance meets or exceeds all standards established at the fully successful level or above and makes significant contributions towards achieving the organizational goals.)
- Be expected to assume increased IT responsibilities in the future
- Be at the GS-11 level or above (or equivalent)
Additional requirements for private sector IT employees:
- Must work in a private sector organization, which means nonpublic or commercial individuals and businesses, nonprofit organizations, academia, scholastic institutions and nongovernmental organizations
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- May be required to hold a security clearance, depending on the nature of the detail
- Sponsoring DoD Component will determine the appropriate level of clearance required
- Private sector participants are considered DoD employees while on a detail within the DoD and are bound by federal/defense regulations regarding personal conduct, security requirements and ethical behavior