(a)
The Administrator may authorize term appointments within the Administration under subchapter I of chapter 33, for a period of not less than 1 year and not more than 6 years.
(b) Notwithstanding chapter 33 or any other provision of law relating to the examination, certification, and appointment of individuals in the competitive service, the Administrator may convert an employee serving under a term appointment to a permanent appointment in the competitive service within the Administration without further competition if—
(1)
such individual was appointed under open, competitive examination under subchapter I of chapter 33 to the term position;
(2)
the announcement for the term appointment from which the conversion is made stated that there was potential for subsequent conversion to a career-conditional or career appointment;
(3)
the employee has completed at least 2 years of current continuous service under a term appointment in the competitive service;
(4)
the employee’s performance under such term appointment was at least fully successful or equivalent; and
(5)
the position to which such employee is being converted under this section is in the same occupational series, is in the same geographic location, and provides no greater promotion potential than the term position for which the competitive examination was conducted.
(c)
Notwithstanding chapter 33 or any other provision of law relating to the examination, certification, and appointment of individuals in the competitive service, the Administrator may convert an employee serving under a term appointment to a permanent appointment in the competitive service within the Administration through internal competitive promotion procedures if the conditions under paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (b) are met.
(e)
An employee converted to career or career-conditional employment under this section acquires competitive status upon conversion.