ATTN: HR Operations Liaisons

HR Operations

FY 2026 Performance Appraisal Due Dates and Responsibilities

This message can be used as a sample communication to copy, modify, and distribute within your own organization, as needed. Please feel free to adapt the language to best fit your internal communication style and audience.

Performance Appraisal: Closeout FY 2026

FY 2026 Appraisal Period: October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026

This message provides guidance—for the general workforce (excluding SES/SL/ST and Schedule C employees)—related to closing Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 employee performance appraisal plans (EPAPs) in USA Performance.

The FY26 performance cycle will end on September 30, 2026.

Employees are encouraged to provide their accomplishments. Rating officials need to close out FY 2026 EPAPs by [date]. Human Resources will then begin the quality review of appraisals.

[Add information related to your agency calibration panel process and timeframe, if necessary.]

Between [date] and [date], Parts 3, 4, and 5, of the performance appraisal are to be completed.

EPAP – Parts 3-5: Rating & Signatures

The USA Performance system will automatically determine the summary rating and rating value.

Employee

Employees can input their end-of-the-year accomplishments by writing a narrative in part 9 or clicking on “Add Document” below Part 10, at the bottom of the EPAP, to upload a document. Providing accomplishments is optional.

Due: [date]

Rating Official

The rating official must review and assign rating(s) and consider the employee’s accomplishments, if provided by the employee.

Step 5: Signatures

Rating officials’ signature is applied first.

Rating & Reviewing Official

A reviewing official’s signature is required for all summary ratings. Once the reviewing official’s signature is applied, the rating official may release the rating to the employee and have the discussion with the employee.

Due: [date]

Employee

Employees may then view element ratings, narratives, summary rating, and sign the appraisal plan.

Highlights and Reminders

If an employee has not been on standards for at least 90 days by September 30, 2026, the employee will not be eligible for a FY26 rating unless an employee’s performance rating cycle is extended.

There may be exceptions when the rating official or reviewing official will need to bypass the employee’s signature. Exceptions may include, but are not limited to, the employee being on leave, detail, active duty, or the employee declines to sign.

Guidance on FY 2026 performance recognition and establishment of FY 2027 EPAPs will be forthcoming.

Resources

• OPM Memo: Performance Management for Federal Employees
• OPM Performance Management
• [Add any agency performance policy]

Questions

• If you have any questions, please contact [Agency Performance Point of Contact].