FPRAC studies all matters pertaining to prevailing rate determinations and advises the Director of the OPM on appropriate pay policies for FWS employees.
The OPM authorizes special pay plans when unusual labor market conditions seriously handicap agencies in recruiting and retaining qualified employees.
They make full occupational studies, which include onsite visits to interview employees, supervisors, and union representatives.
OPM defines the geographic boundaries of individual local wage areas and reviews survey job descriptions to ensure that they are accurate and current.
This law states that the Government has 45 working days to put FWS pay adjustments into effect after each wage survey starts.
The United States Department of Defense (DOD) is the lead agency responsible for issuing FWS wage schedules.
In addition, labor organizations nominate half of the Federal employees who collect wage data from private enterprise employers.
Surveys of non-Federal employers, including State and local governments, determine the pay for GS employees.