6 CFR § 158.632 - Recognition payments.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t6/s158.632"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "6 CFR § 158.632 - Recognition payments."
title_number: 6
title_name: "Domestic Security"
section_number: "158.632"
section_name: "Recognition payments."
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY"
part_number: "158"
part_name: "CYBERSECURITY TALENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CTMS)"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "Subpart H also issued under 5 U.S.C. Chapters 41 and 43; 5 CFR parts 410 and 430."
regulatory_source: "86 FR 47893, Aug. 26, 2021, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "158"
---


# 158.632 Recognition payments.

(a) Under this section and § 158.630, and for the reasons and bases stated in § 158.630(a), the Department may provide a recognition payment to a DHS-CS employee in an amount of up to 20 percent, or up to 50 percent with approval of the Secretary or designee, of the receiving DHS-CS employee's salary. The Department may require a service agreement of not less than six months and not more than three years as part of providing a recognition payment to a DHS-CS employee.

(b) Under this section and § 158.630, and for the reasons and bases stated in § 158.630(b) and as part of an offer of employment in the DHS-CS, the Department may offer a recognition payment to an individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS in an amount of up to 20 percent of the receiving individual's initial salary in the DHS-CS. The Department requires a service agreement of not less than six months and not more than three years as part of providing, upon appointment, a recognition payment to an individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS.

(c) The Department may provide a recognition payment as a lump sum payment, an installment payment, or a recurring payment.

(d) The Department may provide a recognition payment under this section to a former DHS-CS employee or to the legal heirs or estate of a former DHS-CS employee in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 4505.

(e) Acceptance of a recognition payment constitutes agreement for Federal Government use of any idea, method, device, or similar that is the basis of the payment.

(f) A recognition payment under this section is subject to and may be limited by the aggregate compensation limit described in § 158.604.

(g) A recognition payment is not salary under this part and is not basic pay for any purpose under 5 U.S.C. or 5 CFR.

(h) A recognition payment under this section is based on the following types of awards and incentives provided under 5 U.S.C.:

(1) Cash awards under 5 U.S.C. 4502;

(2) Agency awards under 5 U.S.C. 4503;

(3) Performance-based cash awards under 5 U.S.C. 4505a and 5384;

(4) Presidential rank awards under 5 U.S.C. 4507 and 4507a; and

(5) Recruitment, relocation, and retention incentives 5 U.S.C. 5753 and 5754.

(i) A recognition payment under this section is in lieu of the types of awards and incentives provided under 5 U.S.C. listed in paragraph (h) of this section, and a DHS-CS employee is ineligible to receive any such awards or incentives.

(j) An individual selected for employment in the DHS-CS is ineligible to receive, as part of the offer of employment, any other offer of a monetary award or incentive, a payment in addition to salary, or other monetary recognition from the Department except as provided in this section and § 158.630. An individual appointed to an advisory appointment is also ineligible to receive, as part of an offer of employment in the DHS-CS, any offer of recognition under this section.

(k) A recognition payment under this section for a DHS-CS advisory appointee is subject to additional requirements and restrictions in subpart J of this part.