(1) A suggester, or the suggester's representative, may, by written appeal, request that either a denial of award or the amount of an award be reconsidered. To be valid, the appeal must be received by the agency within thirty calendar days of the agency's formal action of the suggestion. For an appeal to be accepted, new evidence or new information must be supplied. Such appeal must state with specificity the grounds for the appeal and a statement of the relief sought.

(2) If a rejected suggestion is implemented within two years of the agency's formal action of the suggestion, the employee may file an appeal based on the suggestion's implementation. Such appeal must be filed within two years of agency action.

(3) The agency shall direct all appeals to the agency head with a copy to the productivity board.

(4) The agency shall make the determination whether an appeal request is accepted or rejected based on the new information or new evidence that is submitted by the suggester. An agency shall reconsider accepted appealed suggestions based upon the new information and/or evidence provided in the written appeal and report its findings to the suggester.

(5) If the suggester believes the agency appeal process is unsatisfactory the suggester may appeal to the board. An agency head may also request the appeal be turned over to the board if he/she believes an outside party should become involved with the appeal process. The agency shall inform all suggesters of their rights to appeal to the board if they are not satisfied with the agency appeal evaluation. When a suggester or the agency head appeals to the board, complete copies of the suggestion file must be submitted to the board.

(6) The board reserves the right to rule on cases which involve extenuating circumstances.