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: To date, 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 the VA to the NPC.  Such transactions involving payment of VA-appropriated funds to an NPC may not be accomplished using MOU's.

VA Office of the Inspector General Audit of Medical Center Use of Intergovernmental Personnel Act Assignments (Report No. 7R8­A19­044; Date: February 27, 1997)

Federal Statute and Regulations

Statute: 5 USC 3371-3375
Regulations: 5 CFR part 334

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

VA Directive

VA Directive 5334: Temporary Assignment of Employees Under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) - (09/27/00)

• 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