24.2—Allocation.
(a)
The Secretary, within the number authorized in the PHS Act, shall determine the number of SBRS slots to be allocated to each participating Operating Division.
(b)
The SBRS Policy Board may advise the Secretary to make adjustments to the allocation at any time.
(c)
The majority of the SBRS allocation is to be reserved for recruitment. The remaining SBRS allocation may be used for the retention of current employees.
(d)
SBRS slots will be used judiciously, resulting in SBRS appointments only where other senior-level appointing authorities are not sufficient to recruit or retain scientific talent.
(e)
The Secretary will ensure that SBRS slots are used in support of high priority programs authorized by Congress and which directly support the research goals and priorities of the Department.