- 1 July-30 June - ST, SL, GM, WS/GS-13 and above, employees at equivalent levels in other pay plans. Note: The Corps of Engineers has been granted a waiver to allow for a 1 Oct - 30 Sept rating cycle for all GS13-15s in the COE. The SES (ES) rating cycle is 1 Oct-30 Sep.
- 1 Nov-31 Oct - WS/GS-9 through 12, employees at equivalent levels in other pay plans (except WL and WG).
- 1 Nov-31 Oct - WS/GS-9 through 12, employees at equivalent levels in other pay plans (except WL and WG).
The annual appraisal periods for the Base System are locally determined rating cycles; WG, WL, WS/GS 1-8 and employees at equivalent levels in other pay plans are included. In addition, certain demonstration projects have different rating cycles.
It is vital that supervisors know their employees duties and responsibilities and it is equally important the employees know what they must do to attain the "Success" level and what is expected of them. Employees should be encouraged to participate in the development of their work plan, however, the final determination of objectives/responsibilities and standards rests with the supervisor/rater. During the initial discussion of the work plan, the rater and employee should discuss the Army values and ethics and how they relate to the employee.
The work plan or performance plan must be reviewed and approved by the rater before it can be implemented. In some instances, senior rater approval is also required. Performance plans become effective on the date they are signed/initialed by the rater (or the senior rater, when one is used). Therefore, it is important for the responsible official to initial and date the performance plan to indicate his/her approval. The sequence for initialing the counseling checklist/support form is as follows: the ratee, the rater, the intermediate rater (if used), and the senior rater (if used).
Raters must discuss work plans with their employees and ensure they initial the final plan. Discussions should take place within 30 days after assignment into the position, at the beginning of the annual rating period, at the end of the annual rating period, and periodically during the rating cycle. Record such discussions on the Support Form (DA Form 7222-1) or the Counseling Checklist (DA Form 7223-1). The midpoint discussion needs to be documented by initialing on the performance plan.
Each year the work plan is reviewed for currency and recertified by the rater, the senior rater (if used), and the employee.
Each of the two subsystems has two forms.