---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 9804"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "9804"
heading: "Recruitment, redesignation, and relocation bonuses"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/9804"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart I — Miscellaneous"
  - "Chapter 98 — National Aeronautics and Space Administration"
---

# §9804. Recruitment, redesignation, and relocation bonuses

- (a) Notwithstanding [section 5753](/usc/5/5753.md), the [Administrator](/usc/5/9801.md?p=2) may [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) a bonus to an individual, in accordance with the [workforce plan](/usc/5/9801.md?p=5) and subject to the limitations in this section, if—
  - (1) the [Administrator](/usc/5/9801.md?p=2) determines that the [Administration](/usc/5/9801.md?p=1) would be likely, in the absence of a bonus, to encounter difficulty in filling a [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3); and
  - (2) the individual—
    - (A) is newly appointed as an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) of the Federal [Government](/usc/5/4101.md?p=3);
    - (B) is currently employed by the Federal [Government](/usc/5/4101.md?p=3) and is newly appointed to another [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) in the same geographic area; or
    - (C) is currently employed by the Federal [Government](/usc/5/4101.md?p=3) and is required to relocate to a different geographic area to accept a [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) with the [Administration](/usc/5/9801.md?p=1).
- (b) If the [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) is described as addressing a [critical need](/usc/5/9801.md?p=3) in the [workforce plan](/usc/5/9801.md?p=5) under [section 9802(b)(2)(A)](/usc/5/9802.md?p=b-2-A), the amount of a bonus may not exceed—
  - (1) 50 percent of the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2)’s annual rate of [basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4) (including comparability payments under sections [5304](/usc/5/5304.md) and [5304a](/usc/5/5304a.md)) as of the beginning of the [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) period multiplied by the [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) period specified under [subsection (d)(1)(B)(i)](#d-1-B-i); or
  - (2) 100 percent of the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2)’s annual rate of [basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4) (including comparability payments under sections [5304](/usc/5/5304.md) and [5304a](/usc/5/5304a.md)) as of the beginning of the [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) period.
- (c) If the [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) is not described as addressing a [critical need](/usc/5/9801.md?p=3) in the [workforce plan](/usc/5/9801.md?p=5) under [section 9802(b)(2)(A)](/usc/5/9802.md?p=b-2-A), the amount of a bonus may not exceed 25 percent of the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2)’s annual rate of [basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4) (excluding comparability payments under sections [5304](/usc/5/5304.md) and [5304a](/usc/5/5304a.md)) as of the beginning of the [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) period.
- (d)
  - (1)
    - (A) Payment of a bonus under this section shall be contingent upon the individual entering into a [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) agreement with the [Administration](/usc/5/9801.md?p=1).
    - (B) At a minimum, the [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) agreement shall include—
      - (i) the required [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) period;
      - (ii) the method of payment, including a payment schedule, which may include a lump-sum payment, installment payments, or a combination thereof;
      - (iii) the amount of the bonus and the basis for calculating that amount; and
      - (iv) the conditions under which the agreement may be terminated before the agreed-upon [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) period has been completed, and the effect of the termination.
  - (2) For purposes of determinations under subsections [(b)(1)](#b-1) and (c)(1), the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2)’s [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) period shall be expressed as the number equal to the full years and twelfth parts thereof, rounding the fractional part of a month to the nearest twelfth part of a year. The [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) period may not be less than 6 months and may not exceed 4 years.
  - (3) A bonus under this section may not be considered to be part of the [basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4) of an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2).
- (e) Before paying a bonus under this section, the [Administration](/usc/5/9801.md?p=1) shall establish a plan for paying recruitment, redesignation, and relocation bonuses, subject to approval by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) of Personnel Management.
- (f) No more than 25 percent of the total amount in bonuses awarded under [subsection (a)](#a) in any year may be awarded to [supervisors](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-10) or [management officials](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-11).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 108–201, § 3(a), Feb. 24, 2004, 118 Stat. 464.)