The Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) mobility program is intended to facilitate cooperation between federal and state agencies and both nonprofit and for profit private sector organizations through temporary assignments of skilled personnel. IPA assignments may not be used to circumvent personnel ceilings or federal hiring practices. Nor may they be used to meet the personal interests of employees or to avoid unpleasant personnel decisions.

Please note: An assignment consistent with the IPA regulations is the only approved mechanism for reimbursement of personnel costs between VA and an NPC when the individual is an NPC employee and the flow of funds is from VA to the NPC.  Transactions involving payment of VA-appropriated funds to an NPC may not be accomplished using MOU's.

Section 7364(b)(2) of the NPC authorizing statute enacted in 2010 specifically authorizes VA medical centers to reimburse NPCs for the salary and benefits of NPC employees assigned to VA under the IPA.

If a facility Fiscal Office is unfamiliar with making IPA reimbursements from VA to an NPC, please refer them to "VA Financial Policies and Procedures, Volume II, Chapter 6, Miscellaneous Obligations, January 2009."  On page 20, the section on "Miscellaneous Non-Procurement Obligations" provides procedures for IPA obligations using VA Form 1358.

Please note:  An IPA appointment is an official federal appointment.  NPC employees working on VA research or education under an approved IPA appointment with VA do not need a separate VA without compensation (WOC) appointment for the duration of the IPA assignment.  

Federal Statute and Regulations

Statute: 5 USC 3371-3375
Final Regulations October 18, 2006 - 5 CFR Part 334 - Federal Register Notice

Purpose of Program
Coverage
Certification of "Other Organizations"
Length of Assignment
Reimbursement for Assignment
Travel, Relocation, and Per Diem
Standards of Conduct and Conflict-of-interest Provisions
Arranging an Assignment
Termination of an Assignment
Changes to the Assignment Agreement
Oversight

For OPM information and questions:

IPA Mobility Program
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Room 7463
1900 E St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20415

Phone: 202-606-1561
Email: ipa@opm.gov

VA Handbook

VA Handbook 5005 (February 23, 2010)

• VA Office of the Inspector General Audit of Medical Center Use of Intergovernmental Personnel Act Assignments (Report No. 7R8­A19­044; Date: February 27, 1997)
• Correct Use of VA IPA Assignments
• Non-Citizen Eligibility for IPA Appointments
• Do IPA Reimbursements Trigger the Need for an A-133 Audit?
• IPA Form - ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
• Accrual for Vacation and Sick Time for Employees, Including Those on IPAs