BOP Program Statement 3430.09 § 10

a. Determining Element Ratings. The rating of an employee’s performance in each job

element is based upon the incidents recorded in the performance log. Each element will be rated

at one of five levels: Outstanding, Excellent, Successful, Minimally Satisfactory, or

Unacceptable.

Each element will be rated at the level that reflects the level assigned to the majority of

performance log entries for that element. If there are equal numbers of performance log entries

at two different levels, the rating official may assign either of the two levels unless there is an

intermediate level or levels. For example, if two log entries are Successful and two are

Excellent, the rater may assign either Successful or Excellent as the element rating. If two log

entries are Successful and two are Outstanding, the rater must assign Excellent as the element

rating.

Special provisions apply when rating an element as Unacceptable. Refer to subsection 20 of

this section for procedures for documenting Unacceptable performance.

The rating official will select the rating for each element, write narrative comments in the space

provided for each element, and provide narrative comments on the employee’s overall

performance that appear in the “rater’s comments” section of the form. Rating officials must

also complete the training and career development section of the form with recommendations for

training or other developmental activities.

For dual or multiple supervision, all supervisors of 90 days or more should provide input into the

rating process. Reviewing officials may also seek input from supervisors of lesser periods of

time.

b. Overall Rating. The overall rating is assigned by the reviewing official, based on the

individual element ratings. Reviewing officials assign the overall rating, selecting the

appropriate rating and writing narrative comments that appear in the “reviewer’s comments”

section of the form.

Except in the case of Outstanding ratings, the rating assigned by the reviewing official is the final

rating. If the proposed rating is Outstanding, the Chief Executive Officer, Regional Director, or

Assistant Director is the approving official. Reviewing officials must adjust individual element

ratings to be consistent with the overall rating; however, any such changes by the reviewer must

be substantiated by the comments in the “reviewer’s comments” section of the rating form.

Unacceptable performance in one or more elements mandates an overall rating of Unacceptable.

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An overall rating of Minimally Satisfactory is demonstrated by Minimally Satisfactory

performance in more than one element and no element rated as Unacceptable.

An overall rating of Successful is demonstrated by a rating of Successful or higher in a majority

of the elements, no more than one Minimally Satisfactory element, and no Unacceptable element.

An overall rating of Excellent is demonstrated by a rating of Excellent or higher in a majority of

the elements and no element rated less than Successful.

An overall rating of Outstanding is demonstrated by a rating of Outstanding in a majority of the

elements and no element rated less than Excellent. When an Outstanding rating is approved by

the approving official, the rating official must also recommend the granting of additional

recognition in the form of a cash or non-cash award or a Quality Step Increase for employees

who are otherwise eligible. Refer to the Program Statement Awards Program, Incentive

Awards for the criteria for performance awards.

In the event of an equal number of element ratings, the reviewing official has full discretion in

approving the overall rating that best reflects the employee’s performance.