Purpose. The purpose of an agency statement of position is to inform the Authority and the exclusive representative why a proposal or provision is not within the duty to bargain or contrary to law, respectively. As more fully explained in paragraph (c) of this section, the agency is required in the statement of position to, among other things, set forth its understanding of the proposal or provision, state any disagreement with the facts, arguments, or meaning of the proposal or provision set forth in the exclusive representative's petition for review, and supply all arguments and authorities in support of its position.

Time limit for filing. Unless the time limit for filing has been extended pursuant to § 2424.23 or part 2429 of this subchapter, the agency must file its statement of position within thirty (30) days after the date the head of the agency receives a copy of the petition for review.

Content. You must file your statement of position on a form that the Authority has provided for that purpose, or in a substantially similar format. You meet this requirement if you file your statement electronically through use of the eFiling system on the FLRA's Web site at www.flra.gov. That Web site also provides copies of statement forms. You must date your statement, unless you file it electronically through use of the eFiling system. And, regardless of how you file your statement, your statement must:

Withdraw either:

The allegation that the duty to bargain in good faith does not extend to the exclusive representative's proposal, or

The disapproval of the provision under 5 U.S.C. 7114(c); or

Set forth in full your position on any matters relevant to the petition that you want the Authority to consider in reaching its decision, including: A statement of the arguments and authorities supporting any bargaining obligation or negotiability claims; any disagreement with claims that the exclusive representative made in the petition for review; specific citation to any law, rule, regulation, section of a collective bargaining agreement, or other authority that you rely on; and a copy of any such material that the Authority may not easily access (which you may upload as attachments if you file your statement of position electronically through use of the FLRA's eFiling system). Your statement of position must also include the following:

If different from the exclusive representative's position, an explanation of the meaning the agency attributes to the proposal or provision and the reasons for disagreeing with the exclusive representative's explanation of meaning;

If different from the exclusive representative's position, an explanation of how the proposal or provision would work, and the reasons for disagreeing with the exclusive representative's explanation;

A statement as to whether the proposal or provision is also involved in an unfair labor practice charge under part 2423 of this subchapter, a grievance pursuant to the parties' negotiated grievance procedure, or an impasse procedure under part 2470 of this subchapter, and whether any other petition for review has been filed concerning a proposal or provision arising from the same bargaining or the same agency head review; and

Any request for a hearing before the Authority and the reasons supporting such request.

Severance. If the exclusive representative has requested severance in the petition for review, and if the agency opposes the exclusive representative's request for severance, then the agency must explain with specificity why severance is not appropriate.

Service. A copy of the agency's statement of position, including all attachments, must be served in accord with § 2424.2(g).