Background.   The GSU was implemented in 2006 because of Office of Management and Budget (OMB), A-76 outsourcing initiative, which re-engineered the business processes for providing geological services. Since then, the GSU has performed work to support agency programs in all States with a very high customer satisfaction.

Currently, the GSU is centrally funded “off the top” at $3.0-$3.5 million in FY 21 to support 32 geologists in 26 host State locations (see attached map) and supervised locally by the State Conservation Engineer. The National Headquarters (NHQ) Science & Technology (S&T) Deputy Area, Conservation Engineering Division (CED) accounts for the Geological Services Unit (GSU) geologists on the NHQ’s staff and directly provides and manages funds for the GSU geologist’s salary, benefits, awards, travel, field equipment, and other technical resources. There are currently 29 geologists on board to provide geological services to the nation and territories.
      

Explanation.   States are advised that the National Staffing Distribution Model counts a GSU geologist position as a non-modeled staff in the host State. The full-time employee (FTE) is not part of the overall workload calculation in determining the core State’s staffing (modeled staff) allotment. The GSU FTE is added after the calculations are made. Also, FPAC Human Resources (HR) tracks these positions as part of NHQ staff.

Except for travel, submit all funding and hiring requests to NHQ for approval. Travel is approved locally by the supervisor. If the funding request is approved, NHQ will provide notification of approval with a funding code or HR tracking number and States can use their local standard operating procedures with the provided funding code or HR tracking number to process the request.