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Position Designation Tool

Position designation automated tool (pdt).

Proper position designation is the foundation of an effective and consistent suitability and personnel security program. In order to ensure a systematic, dependable, and uniform way of making position designations, OPM in cooperation with the  Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) provide the Position Designation Automated Tool (PDT) for those individuals within agencies charged with position designation responsibilities.

Issues? PDT Functional Help: ( 878)-274-1171

An upgraded version of the Position Designation Tool (PDT) is now available  as part of the incremental product releases of NBIS. It has the same steps and functionality as the current PDT, but with the following new benefits:

• Designed for seamless integration with current and future NBIS services
• Developed using a more agile approach to capturing and delivering PDT change requests
• The first step of the PDT now provides a drop down containing Agency Names
• Provides PDF summary of the designation for saving and placing with the master position description
• Font styling makes the text on the page easier to read

For a quick tutorial on the changes to the PDT please see this short informational video: 

https://youtu.be/LCrT_C_OIwg

Note: Agencies must abide by the standards established by OPM and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) for proper designation of covered positions. OPM, in coordination with ODNI, offers instruction and training to agencies in applying the Position Designation System.   Agencies must be able to demonstrate that they are adhering to the standards for proper designation of positions.  Failure to comply may result in unfavorable audit findings under title 5 USC § 1104(b)(2) and 5 CFR 5.2, or withdrawal of delegated authority under 5 CFR 731.103(f).

Position Designation System (PDS)

The Position Designation System assesses the duties and responsibilities of a position to determine the degree of potential damage to the efficiency or integrity of the service from misconduct of an incumbent of a position. This establishes the risk level of that position. This assessment also determines if a position’s duties and responsibilities present the potential for position incumbents to bring about a material adverse effect on the national security, and the degree of that potential effect, which establishes the sensitivity level of a position. The results of this assessment determine what level of investigation should be conducted for a position.

Before using the PDT, designators should first develop a thorough familiarity and understanding of the PDS. The success and consistency of the PDT are directly connected to the user's understanding of the various possible selections related to the national security and suitability (public trust) requirements, duties, and responsibilities available within the PDS. Without fully understanding the possible selections available, the users could inadvertently fail to make appropriate selections early in the PDT process, and this would impact the accuracy of the final position designation. A full understanding of the PDS and proper application of the PDT will ensure consistency.

• Position Designation System with Glossary 2017
• Tiered Investigation Crosswalk Chart 2015

If you have questions concerning position designation, please contact Suitability Adjudications at 202-599-0090. If you are interested in Position Designation training, please view our Agency Training .

Federal Regulations

Parts 1400 and 731 of Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations establish the requirements for agencies to evaluate relevant covered positions for a position sensitivity and position risk designation commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of those positions. Specifically, section 1400.101(d) states, “All positions must be evaluated for a position sensitivity designation commensurate with the responsibilities and assignments of the position as they relate to the impact on the national security, including but not limited to eligibility for access to classified information.” Section 731.106(a) of Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations states, "agency heads must designate every covered position within the agency at a high, moderate, or low risk level as determined by the position's potential for adverse impact to the efficiency or integrity of the service." Also, each part cross references the requirement for risk and sensitivity designations. See sections 1400.201(c) and (d), and section 731.106(c)(2).

Automated Tool

As required by section 1400.201(b) of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this system is for uniform and consistent position designation of:

• National security positions in the competitive service, the excepted service where the incumbent can be noncompetitively converted to the competitive service, and Senior Executive Service (SES) positions held by career appointees in the SES within the executive branch;  1
• All "covered positions" as defined in 5 CFR 731.101 ;  2
• Other excepted service positions within the executive branch and contractor positions, when authorized by agency policy and to the extent consistent with law, or when directed by the Security Executive Agent; and  3
• Any positions, including contractor employee positions, when the investigation will be conducted under the Federal Investigative Standards prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in December 2012.  4

To determine the proper designation of a position and its required corresponding level of investigation, the position description and any other necessary supplemental information (e.g. human resources, management and security office input) must be carefully evaluated to assess the nature of the position as it relates to the potential material adverse impact to the national security , and -– if it is a covered position under part 731 -- its impact on the efficiency or integrity of the service.

The following position designation system consists of a four-step process that will guide the designator through an examination of the position’s duties and responsibilities. The completion of this process will result in a final designation for the position which, in turn, will determine the investigative requirements for the position in question.

It is important to keep in mind that for covered positions as defined in 5 CFR part 731, the designator must look at both national security and public trust duties and responsibilities. Some duties accounted for herein occur under both the national security and public trust sections of the process because of the duty’s potential impact on one concern and/or the other. For covered positions, a critical-sensitive or special-sensitive national security designation automatically confers high-risk public trust designation, and a noncritical-sensitive national security designation automatically confers a moderate-risk public trust designation unless, as described in the following sections of the position designation system, it requires a higher designation. See 5 CFR 1400.201(c), (d).

1 5 CFR 1400.102(b)

2 5 CFR 731.106(a)

3 5 CFR 1400.102(b)

4 Pursuant to an assignment of functions under section 2.2(e) of E.O. 13467, the December 2012 Federal Investigative Standards apply to investigations for contractor employee fitness.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Continuing review of all work by a technical expert, such as:

• The supervisor provides continuing or individual assignments by indicating generally what is to be done, limitations, quality and quantity expected, deadlines, and priority of assignments.
• The supervisor provides additional, specific instructions for new, difficult, or unusual assignments, including suggested work methods or advice on source material available. The employee uses initiative in carrying out recurring assignments independently without specific instructions, but refers deviations, problems, and unfamiliar situations not covered by instructions to the supervisor for decision or help. The supervisor assures that finished work and methods used are technically accurate and in compliance with instructions or established procedures. Review of the work increases with more difficult assignments if the employee has not previously performed similar assignments.
• For both one-of-a-kind and repetitive tasks, the supervisor makes specific assignments accompanied by clear, detailed, and specific instructions. The employee works as instructed and consults with the supervisor as needed on all matters not specifically covered in the original instructions or guidelines. For all positions the work is closely controlled. For some positions, the control is through the structured nature of the work; for others, it may be controlled by the circumstances in which it is performed. In some situations, the supervisor maintains control through review of the work. This may include checking progress or reviewing completed work for accuracy, adequacy, and adherence to instructions and established procedures.

Occasional review from a perspective of major policy issues by a superior who likely has no relevant expertise in the technical aspects of the duties performed.

The supervisor provides administrative direction with assignments in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. The employee has responsibility for independently planning, designing, and carrying out programs, projects, studies, or other work. Results of the work are considered technically authoritative and are normally accepted without significant change. If the work should be reviewed, the review concerns such matters as fulfillment of program objectives, effect of advice and influence on the overall program, or the contribution to the advancement of technology. Recommendations for new projects and alteration of objectives usually are evaluated for such considerations as availability of funds and other resources, broad program goals, or national priorities.

Ongoing spot review from a perspective of policy and organizational concerns by a superior with expertise in the technical aspects of the duties performed.

The supervisor sets the overall objectives and resources available. The employee and supervisor, in consultation, develop deadlines, projects, and work to be done. The employee, having developed expertise in the line of work, is responsible for planning and carrying out the assignment, resolving most of the conflicts that arise, coordinating the work with others as necessary, and interpreting policy on own initiative in terms of established objectives. In some assignments, the employee also determines the approach to be taken and the methodology to be used. The employee keeps the supervisor informed of progress and potentially controversial matters. Completed work is reviewed only from an overall standpoint in terms of feasibility, compatibility with other work, or effectiveness in meeting requirements or expected results.

The supervisor makes assignments by defining objectives, priorities, and deadlines and assists the employee with unusual situations that do not have clear precedents. The employee plans and carries out the successive steps and handles problems and deviations in the work assignments in accordance with instructions, policies, previous training, or accepted practices in the occupation. Completed work is usually evaluated for technical soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy and requirements. The methods used in arriving at the end results are not usually reviewed in detail.

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2024 Kentucky Derby horses, field, odds, post positions: Fierceness, Sierra Leone early favorites for big race

The first triple crown race of the year is nearly here and we now know the post positions for the kentucky derby.

The Kentucky Derby is almost here. The 150th Run for the Roses is set for Saturday afternoon from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, where 20 horses will be vying for this year's crown. The mint juleps will be flowing all day as fans make the annual pilgrimage to the famed racetrack to take in the fastest two minutes in sports. The post draw was held very early this year, a full week before the race takes place. 

The favorite this year is Fierceness, who will start out of the No. 16 gate. The horse, trained by Todd Pletcher, has three wins in five career starts. Fierceness took home the win at the Florida Derby in March to go with a win at the Breeders Cup in November. 

As is always the case, the favorite will have some stiff competition from the rest of the field at Churchill Downs. Sierra Leone (3-1), Catching Freedom (8-1), Forever Young (10-1), and Just a Touch (10-1) round out the rest of the favorites in this year's Kentucky Derby field. Dornoch, the younger brother of 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, is something of a longshot at 20-1.

The most common post position to take home the roses has been the No. 5 gate with 10. The last win from that starting gate came in 2017 with Always Dreaming. The position drew a fairly big longshot this year with Catalytic, who is around 30-1 to win it all. He has just three races on his resumes and two second-place finishes.

Last year, the morning-line favorite, Forte, was scratched the morning of the race. The massive shakeup atop the field led to one of the more interesting races in recent memory with no clear favorite. Mage, at 15-1, managed to hold off Angel Empire and Two Phil's for a massive win for jockey Javier Castellano, who picked up his first victories in the Run for the Roses and the Belmont Stakes last year.

The winner of the 150th edition of the Kentucky Derby will look to join the 13 Triple Crown winners in history. The last came in 2018 with Justify as the horse easily swept all three legs of the Triple Crown at the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. 

Check out the list of previous 149 winners before the action kicks off on May 4.

2024 Kentucky Derby post positions

• Dornoch (20-1)
• Sierra Leone (3-1)
• Mystik Dan (20-1)
• Catching Freedom (8-1)
• Catalytic (30-1)
• Just Steel (20-1)
• Honor Marie (20-1)
• Just a Touch (10-1)
• Encino (20-1) Scratched
•  T O Password (30-1) 
• Forever Young (10-1)
• Track Phantom (20-1)
• West Saratoga (50-1)
• Endlessly (30-1)
• Domestic Product (30-1)
• Grand Mo the First (50-1)
• Fierceness (5/2)
• Stronghold (20-1)
• Resilience (20-1)
• Society Man (50-1)
• Epic Ride (30-1)
• Mugtau (30-1)

2024 Kentucky Derby odds (sorted)

• Fierceness -- 5/2
• Sierra Leone 3-1
• Catching Freedom 8-1
• Just a Touch 10-1
• Forever Young 10-1
• Dornoch 20-1
• Mystik Dan 20-1
• Just Steel 20-1
• Honor Marie 20-1
• Encino 20-1
• Track Phantom 20-1
• Stronghold 20-1
• Resilience 20-1
• Catalytic 30-1
• T O Password 30-1
• Endlessly 30-1
• Domestic Product 30-1
• Epic Ride 30-1
• Mugatu 30-1
• West Saratoga 50-1
• Grand Mo the First 50-1
• Society Man 50-1

So who wins the 2024 Kentucky Derby? What double-digit longshot is a must-back? And how has Yu constructed her wagers?  Visit SportsLine to see Yu's picks for the Kentucky Derby , all from the Santa Anita-based racing insider who has a long history of success in the Kentucky Derby, and find out. 

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Kentucky Derby post positions: Most wins from each spot at Churchill Downs starting gate

Over the course of an exhilarating two minutes on Saturday, horses will jockey (no pun intended) for position over 1 1/4 miles of Kentucky dirt, with the winner of that frenetic sprint earning a place in history as the champion of the world’s most storied race.

The winner of the 2024 Kentucky Derby , though, won’t just be determined by whoever crosses the finish line first at Churchill Downs . Historically speaking, it will be influenced by where the winning horse began the race.

Among the dozens of factors that go into prognosticating the Run for the Roses is the race’s post position — that is, where on the track’s 20-horse starting gate each competitor is before they take off.

For those who closely follow the sport and try to correctly bet on the winner of the race, last Saturday’s Kentucky Derby post position draw was an event of significant interest. Where a horse starts the race doesn’t foretell whether they’ll win it. But based on nearly a century’s worth of results, it can prevent even a top contender from galloping into the famed Winner’s Circle.

To get a better sense of what horses might be well-positioned to win the 2024 Derby, here’s a look at post positions of previous winners since the starting gate was first used in 1930, how many winners have come from each post position and more:

Kentucky Derby best post position

Post position No. 5 has produced the most Derby winners, with 10 wins in 94 starts, along with eight second-place finishes and four third-place showings.

The last winner from the No. 5 post position came in 2017, when Always Dreaming came in first by 2 3/4 lengths. For all of its historic success, however, the post position hasn’t had a top-three finisher since Audible came in third in 2018.

This year, Catalytic will occupy the No. 5 post position, though the horse isn’t among the race’s favorites. As of Thursday morning, Catalytic was at 42-1 odds to win.

REQUIRED READING: Who can beat the favorite in Kentucky Derby 2024? These are four horses to bet on

Kentucky Derby wins by post position

While the No. 5 post position has been the home to the most Derby winners, it doesn’t hold that distinction by a wide margin.

Post position Nos. 8 and 10 have each produced nine Derby winners, just one behind the lead. Mage, the 2023 Derby champion, came out of No. 8. Post position Nos. 1 and 7 have each been home to eight Derby victors.

Beyond post position No. 10, a horse’s chances of winning the Derby decrease noticeably. Only one gate from Nos. 11 through 20 has produced more than five Derby winners, while six of those 10 spots have been home to two or fewer champions, including post position No. 17, which has never been the starting spot for a Derby winner.

Here are the number of Derby champions that have come from each post position:

• Post No. 1 : 8 winners
• Post No. 2 : 7 winners
• Post No. 3 : 5 winners
• Post No. 4 : 5 winners
• Post No. 5 : 10 winners
• Post No. 6 : 2 winners
• Post No. 7 : 8 winners
• Post No. 8 : 9 winners
• Post No. 9 : 4 winners
• Post No. 10 : 9 winners
• Post No. 11 : 2 winners
• Post No. 12 : 3 winners
• Post No. 13 : 5 winners
• Post No. 14 : 2 winners
• Post No. 15 : 6 winners
• Post No. 16 : 4 winners
• Post No. 17 : 0 winners
• Post No. 18 : 2 winners
• No. 19 : 1 winner
• No. 20 : 2 winners

REQUIRED READING: Brown: Louisville trainers, with 5 horses in Kentucky Derby 150 field, out to make history

Kentucky Derby post positions 2024

What might that history of finishes from various spots on the starting gate mean for the 2024 Derby?

Here’s a look at which horse is starting from which post position:

• No. 1 : Dornoch
• No. 2 : Sierra Leone
• No. 3 : Mystik Dan
• No. 4 : Catching Freedom
• No. 5 : Catalytic
• No. 6 : Just Steel
• No. 7 : Honor Marie
• No. 8 : Just a Touch
• No. 9 : Encino (Scratched)
• No. 10 : T O Password
• No. 11: Forever Young
• No. 12: Track Phantom
• No. 13 : West Saratoga
• No. 14 : Endlessly
• No. 15 : Domestic Product
• No. 16 : Grand Mo the First
• No. 17 : Fierceness
• No. 18 : Stronghold
• No. 19 : Resilience
• No. 20 : Society Man
• No. 21 : Epic Ride