REE Administrative Issuances
About REE Issuances
Background:
The formation of the Research, Education, and Economics (REE) in 1995 provided
an opportunity to consolidate the three directives system managed previously
by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the Economics Management Staff (EMS),
and the Cooperative Management Staff (CMS). A Directives Workgroup was formed
to review the three systems and develop an REE system that incorporated some
of the best from each system and that could be available electronically to its
users. The workgroup's final recommendations included:
- a process for consolidating three directives systems into one REE system
- a new format
- procedures for reviews, clearances, and approvals
- interim guidance for converting the old systems into the new one
The new system was reviewed and approved by AFM management and the REE Administrators
in January, 1996.
System Highlights:
There are three types of REE issuances: policies and procedures (P&P's),
manuals and bulletins.
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Directives have been replaced by P&P's which translates
to Policies and Procedures. P&P's will contain continuing policy, instructions,
guidelines, standards and procedures.
-
Manuals will be used to issue extremely lengthy, detailed
how-to functional procedures to primary end users.
- Bulletins replace the former ARS Temporary Circulars and
the EMS Notices. Bulletins can be used to issue notices, reminders or changes
that require immediate attention.
Issuances serve a variety of functions:
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Extract, condense, and interpret important rules and regulations from many
sources that significantly affect agency missions and programs.
-
Clarify complex functional procedures. Issuances break down many interrelated
activities into simple component parts, and provide employees with clear
instructions.
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Explain policies, responsibilities, procedures or other information needed
to plan and manage REE programs and administrative functions.
-
Serve as an aid to train and orient new employees in the performance of
their jobs.
Permanent issuances
Permanent issuances are in effect until officially canceled or superseded.
They include:
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Policies and Procedures (P&P's)
P&P's contain standing and officially approved policies and procedures
governing the functions of the REE agencies. P&P's contain information
that will be relevant for more than 1 year, remaining in effect until superseded.
-
Manuals
Manuals are used to issue lengthy, detailed "how-to" functional
procedures to primary end users. Manuals remain in effect until superseded.
Temporary Issuances
Temporary issuances expire within l year, unless given an earlier expiration
date. They include:
- Bulletins
Bulletins are used to issue notices, reminders, or changes that require immediate
attention. They contain information of a temporary or time-sensitive nature,
and expire within 1 year, unless given an earlier expiration date.
Contact Information
Additional information about REE issuances may be obtained by telephone by
calling Jackie Sharp 202-720-5507, or by electronic mail at:
jsharp@ars.usda.gov
Written inquiries should be addressed to:
USDA-ARS-AFM-ITD/TSSB
Jackie Sharp, Issuances Manager
Portals Building Ste 580C, Mail Stop 0306
Washington, DC 20250-0306
