Rule of Many and Selection Procedures

Purpose

This Order issues and transmits General Services Administration (GSA) policy governing the use of the Rule of Many and Selection Procedures. 

Background

Pursuant to 5 USC 3317 and 3318 and implementing regulations at 5 CFR part 332, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued the final rule titled “Reinvigorating Merit-Based Hiring through Candidate Ranking in the Competitive and Excepted Service,” published in the Federal Register on September 8, 2025, consistent with the Merit Hiring Plan  dated May 29, 2025. 

The Rule of Many is intended to modernize Federal hiring by establishing a numerical ranking referral and selection procedure that allows agencies to refer and consider more than three closely ranked candidates at the top of a competitive certificate, replacing the traditional Rule of Three, while preserving veterans’ preference. The Rule of Many supports merit-based hiring through validated, skills-based assessments, expands the pool of qualified applicants, and provides flexibility for hiring managers to make better distinctions among candidates based on final rating and ranking scores. The process applies to both competitive selection and certain excepted service hiring authorities, permits referral of eligible candidates with the same or indistinguishable scores, and allows selection from a predetermined number of the highest-ranked qualified candidates. 

Applicability

1. This order applies to all GSA appointing offices and will be utilized when filling:
   1. Competitive service positions when competitive examining procedures are used (in accordance with 5 CFR 337), and
   2. Pathways Recent Graduate and Intern positions in the excepted service when candidate ranking is used (in accordance with 5 CFR Part 302 and 5 CFR 362)
2. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has independent personnel authority. See Section 6 of the Inspector General Act of 1978, (5 U.S.C. App.3), as amended (Inspector General is authorized “to select, appoint, and employ such officers and employees as may be necessary for carrying out the functions, powers, and duties of the Office of Inspector General”) and GSA Order ADM 5450.39D CHGE 1 GSA Delegations of Authority Manual (Delegations Manual), Chapter 2, Part 1 (“the Inspector General has independent authority to formulate policies and make determinations concerning human capital issues within the [OIG]” and GSA determinations/delegations do not limit that authority). Similarly, GSA specifically recognizes that the Inspector General has independent authority to formulate policies and make determinations concerning training, employee development, and career management.
3. This Order only applies to the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) to the extent that the CBCA determines it is consistent with the CBCA’s independent authority under the Contract Disputes Act and it does not conflict with other CBCA policies or the CBCA’s mission.