To provide greater flexibility to agencies to make appointments to positions for which there is a severe shortage of candidates, and for other purposes.

“3117. Agency appointment flexibility

“(a) In general—The head of an agency may, without regard to the provisions of section 3304 and sections 3309 through 3318, appoint a qualified individual to a position within the agency that is in the competitive service and for which the head of the agency determines that there is a severe shortage of candidates.

“(b) Rule of construction—This provision shall not be construed as superseding or otherwise affecting any authority granted to the head of any agency under any other provision of law to make appointments without regard to a provision of chapter 33.

“(c) Agency defined—The term agency has the meaning given such term under section 551.”