Manpower

A. All Air Force military members, Air Force appropriated fund civilian employees, and Air Force Reserve per- sonnel on active duty orders including Individual Mobilization Augmentees may submit ideas and are eli- gible for monetary awards. Private citizens, non-appropriated fund personnel, contractor personnel, retired personnel (unless idea was submitted before they retired), and National Guard Title 32 military members may submit ideas but are not eligible for monetary awards. hide answer

A. During the input process, IPDS assigns a number to each idea. IPDS then automatically sends the Manpower Office the number via an e-mail notification. The Manpower Analyst accesses IPDS and completes the eligi- bility review. The idea is then sent via IPDS to the unit of the subject of the idea and assigned to an evaluator. If the base level evaluators can “implement” the idea, whether or not they want to, they have the authority to approve or disapprove it. If the base level evaluators do not have the approval/disapproval authority, they must still provide an evaluation and either recommend approval or disapproval. If the idea requires MAJ- COM level evaluation, it is sent through the IPDS e-mail system to the unit of the subject of the idea and as- signed to an evaluator and the process continues until a final evaluation decision can be obtained. Through- out the entire evaluation process the submitter, supervisor, evaluator, and Idea Analyst receive electronic IPDS notifications explaining where the idea is in the evaluation process. hide answer

A. The submitter retains ownership rights of an idea for one year, beginning when the idea was submitted through one year after final approval or disapproval. Ownership is determined by the first idea to reach the final approval authority. This protects the employee from the unauthorized use of the idea by another em- ployee or the government without proper recognition of the originator of the idea. hide answer

A. You may request reconsideration within 1 year of the date of final approval or disapproval. Requests are limited to one per idea. If a submitter requests reconsideration of any part of the evaluation (e.g., job responsibility, evaluation, or award), it must be combined into one request. The submitter must input a re- quest for reconsideration into IPDS, reference the original IDEA number, and explain, in the text portion, the reason for reconsideration. IPDS automatically sends it to the Manpower Office for eligibility determination. After the Manpower Analyst reviews the reconsideration, it is transmitted to one level higher than the origi- nal approval or disapproval authority. The reconsideration request must contain one or more of the following reasons:

• Additional evidence
• New Material/information or rationale
• New approach
• Clarification of significant issues

Mere disagreement alone is not justification for reconsideration. hide answer

Air Force Uniforms. Ideas on Air Force uniforms must be new ideas. The base level evaluator is responsible to check previous uniform boards to ensure the idea has not been reviewed by a previous board and obtain the Installation Commander’s approval before transmitting it to the MAJCOM for evaluation. The MAJCOM evaluator must obtain approval from the MAJCOM Commander prior to forwarding it to the Air Force Personnel Center.

Separate Improvement Process (SIP). Ideas that require a special form or separate approval process can be entered into IPDS only after they have been approved by the separate approval authority or completed per the assigned Air Force policy. There are over 700 SIPs. These include, but are not limited to: AFTO Form 22, Technical Order Improvement Report and Reply; AF Form 322, Base Civil Engineer Work Request; AF Form 2288, Fast Payback Capital Investment, and AF Form 2276, Productivity Investment Fund.

Scientific Achievements, Inventions and Patents. These are eligible for input into IPDS, but are processed IAW special processing rules. Please contact your base Idea Analyst if you have any questions on how to submit the above ideas.

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A.

• Is vague, incomplete, or deals with generalities or opinions.
• Appears to be a personal complaint or criticism.
• Proposes a stock-listed item be used for its intended purpose.
• Recommends the enforcement of an existing law, regulation, directive, instruction, or procedure unless it causes corrective action.
• Calls attention to obvious printing errors which do not cause serious misinterpretation, and which will normally be corrected at the next printing.
• Proposes a change in housekeeping practices or routine maintenance.
• Recommends a study be conducted or a tool designed, without specific proposal for improvement.
• Proposes changes to off-the-job activities in community affairs, including charities, public and private education, scouting, church and athletic programs.
• Offers ideas or designs for posters, slogans, contests, advertising or promotional material.
• Benefits an Air Force contractor with no benefit to the United States Government.
• Recommends improvements to non-appropriated fund activities.
• Proposes improvements to non-governmental activities, including banks and credit unions.
• Covers routine operations, including requesting supply items, office equipment, and telephone services.
• Proposes force structure issues, including major systems acquisitions.
• Recommends that a form be developed, revised, or changed without specific proposal for operational improvement, if it entails study of all forms, or if it results in new technology.
• Proposes realignment of text or an additional of a word when there has been no serious misunderstanding or error reported.
• Has been determined not to be the submitter’s own idea.
• Benefits a submitter in a personal way.
• Is not an approved AFTO 22 or AFTO Form 135.
• Has “correction” marked on AFTO Form 22.
• If it drives additional manpower.

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A. The reporting official or supervisor will determine job responsibility based on the merits of each idea. IPDS automatically sends approved ideas to the submitter’s supervisor who receives a notification via e-mail. The supervisor accesses IPDS and completes the supervisor’s review. The supervisor may also be required to complete the base level evaluation if they are the base level OPR for the subject matter contained in the idea.

If an idea can be implemented by an individual (submitter), without approval of higher authority, including the reporting official or supervisor, the action is considered to be within job responsibility.

If the submitter’s primary responsibility is to make recommendations on the subject matter contained in the idea, the action is considered to be within job responsibility. If in doubt, check the submitter’s position description, enlisted performance report or officer performance report for verification.

If an idea is developed by a team or group and can be implemented without approval of higher authority, or if the team has been officially chartered in writing, to make recommendations on the subject matter contained in the idea, the action is considered to be within job responsibility.

As a general rule, if not addressed above, ideas from base level that must be approved and implemented at command-level or higher normally are not job responsibility. The same rationale applies for command personnel when approval authority is at Headquarters Air Force or higher.

All other ideas are considered to be outside job responsibility.

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