5 U.S.C. § 10105: Retention bonuses

the unusually high or unique qualifications of the employee or a special need of the Agency for the employee’s services makes it essential to retain the employee; and the Federal service; or for a different position in the Federal service. the period of service the individual shall be required to complete in return for the bonus; and the conditions under which the agreement may be terminated before the agreed-upon service period has been completed, and the effect of the termination. The amount of a bonus under this section shall be determined by the Administrator, but may not exceed 25 percent of the annual rate of basic pay of the position involved. A bonus under this section shall be paid in the form of a lump-sum payment and shall not be considered to be part of basic pay. may not be based on any period of service which is the basis for a recruitment bonus under section 10104; a position to which an individual is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; a position in the Senior Executive Service as a noncareer appointee (as defined in section 3132(a)); or a position which has been excepted from the competitive service by reason of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character; and upon completion of the strategic human capital plan, shall be paid in accordance with that plan. The authority to grant bonuses under this section shall expire 5 years after the date of enactment of this chapter. The Office of Personnel Management shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, annually for each of the first 5 years during which this section is in effect, a report on the operation of this section. the number and dollar amount of bonuses paid to individuals holding positions within each pay grade, pay level, or other pay classification; and a determination of the extent to which such bonuses furthered the purposes of this section.