(a)Merit promotion plans. Except as otherwise specifically authorized by OPM, an agency may make promotions under § 335.102 of this part only to positions for which the agency has adopted and is administering a program designed to insure a systematic means of selection for promotion according to merit. These programs shall conform to the requirements of this section. (b)Merit promotion requirements - (1)Requirement 1. Each agency must establish procedures for promoting employees that are based on