ASSESS Transition FAQ

LINK TO TRANSITIONING EMPLOYEE APPLICATION

Questions about the Transition to CFD Research

• Who do I contact if I have a question?

You can reach out to our ASSESS Transition Team at:

• Email: ASSESStransition@cfd-research.com
• Phone: 650.287.5722

This email address and phone number will connect you with someone from our ASSESS Transition Team who can help answer your questions. This email and phone number are monitored 24/7, so do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Becoming a CFD Research Employee

• How do I apply for a position at CFD Research?

Apply with CFD Research through our Careers page here. 

• When do I transition to being a CFD Research employee?

If all your application and onboarding activities are complete, your transition to the CFD Research team will occur on the first day of the new ASSESS contract. We anticipate that to occur on April 1, 2025. Delays in completing your application and onboarding activities will affect your start date. 

• When will I receive my first paycheck?

CFD Research pays bi-weekly, two weeks after the end of the pay period.  April 1, 2025, is the second week of our pay period ending on April 4, 2025. You will receive your first paycheck via Direct Deposit on April 19, 2025. Please be aware that your first paycheck will reflect a partial pay period.

• Will my clearance transfer?

Yes, CFD Research can sponsor your clearance if one is required for your position. 

Benefits

• How much Paid Time Off will I have?

CFD Research grants Paid Time Off (PTO) to all regular, full-time, and regular, part-time employees. Eligible employees accrue PTO for each payroll period they work based on their credited years of service.

CFD Research’s Paid Time Off Program includes Comp Time (24 hours rolling maximum) and Bereavement Leave (24 hours). Details for each of these benefits are available from our Human Resources Department.

• What holidays does CFD Research observe?

CFD Research provides the ASSESS Team with 11 paid holidays consisting of 6 fixed holidays, based on the Federal holiday schedule, and 5 floating holidays during a calendar year. The fixed Federal holidays that CFD Research observes are: 

• New Years Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day

Floating holidays may be used in 8-hour increments at any time during the year. Employees whose hiring date is after the start of the year receive a reduced number of Floating holidays based on their hire date. Transitioning ASSESS employees will receive four floating holidays for 2025 on your start date, which are available for use until the last pay period of 2025. 

• What are my healthcare benefits?

CFD Research offers a PPO plan through Blue Cross and Blue Shield. We also provide Dental, Accident, Disability, a 401(k) plan, and ESOP benefits for a competitive overall benefits package.

Although no two company benefit plans are truly the same, we have worked closely with AMA to ensure that health benefit plans are aligned to the greatest extent possible. Details regarding the insurance premiums and coverage details (deductibles, etc.) will be included with your offer letter.

• What is the 401(k) program at CFD Research?

Eligibility for the 401(k) plan begins on your hire date with an autoenrollment at 6% of your salary after 30 Days. CFD Research immediately matches 50% of the employee’s contribution, up to 3% of the employee’s eligible salary, with matching contributions made quarterly. For example, if the employee contributes 6%, CFD Research matches with 3% – eligible salary is regular salary and overtime. Our 401(k) plan is subject to a 4-year vesting schedule for the employer match contributions and is based on an employee’s completed years of service. 

You may also choose, through an annual election, to invest your 401(k) deductions in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, which is described below. The election form is provided in your onboarding package and must be completed with your election decision for 2025. 

• What is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan? 

An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a tax-deferred Wealth Generation/Retirement Benefit paid by CFD Research that credits the value of shares of company stock to your individual account. CFD Research’s ESOP was established in 2005 and we became 100% employee-owned in 2023. Our ESOP A-Team communicates and holds regular information sessions throughout the year that provide an opportunity to engage with others and learn more about the program. 

• How do I join the ESOP? 

You are automatically enrolled in the ESOP on your hire date. You are eligible to earn shares when you work 1,000 hours in a calendar year. 

• What is the vesting schedule for the ESOP? 

ESOP vesting is subject to a 6-year vesting schedule based on an employee’s completed years of service. 

• How do I earn shares in the ESOP? 

Employee-owners are automatically enrolled into CFD Research’s ESOP on their date of hire. To be eligible for contribution, you must work 1,000 hours in a calendar year, and be employed on December 31st of each year. CFD Research employee-owners typically receive 6% to 11% of their yearly salary as a company-paid contribution to the ESOP. Performance drives CFD Research’s stock value and, therefore, the value of your ESOP account as an employee-owner. Your contribution to the company builds additional wealth for your family and your future.

Additionally, you can choose to invest your 401(k) match into the ESOP by completing an election form included in your onboarding package. This election must be made annually in November of the following year.

Our typical calendar of events for ESOP activities is: 

• How do I learn more about the ESOP?

As an ESOP company, we regularly offer training events for employees to better understand their ESOP benefits. As employee-owners, it is important for all of our employees to be actively engaged in the operation of the company. We hold quarterly general meetings where key company metrics are shared and discussed. In addition, a representative group of employees, called the A-Team, serve as ambassadors to share ESOP information with other employees. Various resources are also available on our corporate intranet regarding ESOP details and historical information.

General Questions

• Will CFD Research have a local office in California?

At this time, we are not planning to have a physical office located in California. CFD Research leadership plans to regularly attend customer and employee meetings in support of the ASSESS Team. CFD Research ASSESS employees will have the same access to HR, Operations, and IT personnel.

• How do I fit in the CFD Research organization chart?

The ASSESS Team is in the Aerospace and Defense Solutions (ADS) Division at CFD Research.  Justin Scharber is Vice President and Division Lead for ADS and Sami Habchi serves as our Space Technologies Advisor and Executive Vice President.

• Who is my supervisor?

We anticipate that lines of authority for transitioning ASSESS employees will remain the same after transition to CFD Research.

• What IT resources will CFD Research provide?

You will have access to NASA computers during performance of the contract.  At this time, we are not planning to provide computers for our ASSESS employees.

You will receive access to the CFD Research intranet, INSIDE. Here, you can find information about all aspects of being an employee at CFD Research including benefits, policies, ESOP program, forms, operations support, quality, and safety.

• Is there a return-to-work policy? Will teleworking be allowed? 

At this time, we have no new guidance from NASA or AMA as to changes to contract requirements for on-site work. As such, CFD plans to review and approve existing, as well as new, remote work and teleworking arrangements. 

• When do my healthcare benefits kick in? 

Medical coverage is available the first day of employment. No waiting period. 

• Will you recognize years supporting predecessor contracts/task orders in determining PTO accrual? 

Yes. We will honor your years of service under the current and predecessor contracts when calculating seniority for PTO accrual. 

• What is CFD’s compensatory time policy? 

CFD offers compensatory time to allow a flexible schedule in consideration of surge. Subject to supervisor approval, comp time can be used as paid time off. We currently have a rolling limit of 24hrs of comp time. 

• Does CFD provide professional development opportunities? 

Yes. We leverage NASA training and supplement with company offered discretionary training, professional development, and tuition reimbursement. We encourage employees and their supervisors to discuss training opportunities during periodic one-on-one meetings. If you have a current tuition reimbursement approval in process, please discuss during your one-on-one meeting. CFD is interested in keeping you whole to every extent possible. 

• Will commuting assistance/subsidy for public transit be offered? 

With the potential of increased onsite work requirements, CFD is investigating transportation benefits. If you are current receiving commuter benefits, we encourage you to discuss during your one-on-one meeting. 

• What do I do about previously planned vacation? 

We will support previously approved planned time off and will provide flexible options such as borrowing PTO or taking leave without pay. 

• I am currently on paid disability what do I do?

You will start work with the new employer once you are medically cleared to return to work. If you are able, please go ahead and register as an incumbent by applying to the job requisition above so we can begin communication. If you are on intermittent disability, please work directly with Human Resources hr@cfd-research.com. 

• I have an upcoming medical leave of absence that begins after the transition date what do I do? 

CFD has both disability and leave without pay options available to employees and we are committed to supporting employees with ongoing needs. Work with HR to fill out the appropriate paperwork. 

• Will we have Kaiser as a health benefit option? 

AMA and CFD are both still pursuing Kaiser as an option. That said, Kaiser is unlikely to be an option during this phase-in. We offer a national PPO plan that offers the most flexibility for our employees. Our primary goal is to offer employees with different needs the highest quality and best value. We want to understand any significant impact this may create and encourage you to discuss this with us when you attend your one-on-one meeting. 

• How will CFD address the difference in STC’s annual raise cycle? 

We would like to understand your current annual raise cycle and align this with CFD. We are open to salary discussions during your one-on-one meeting, including any anticipated future raises. Currently, CFD’s annual raise cycle is at the end of the calendar year. 

• Will I need to get a new NASA badge? 

Foreign National badges expire on 3/31/2025 and will be issued a new badge effective 4/1/2025 for the start of the ASSESS contract. All other individuals will keep their current badge, and it will be renewed before expiration. 

• For staff on leave or those otherwise unable to attend the one-on-one or physical meetings, how can they get information and coordinate with the CFD team? 

If you have already registered/applied to CFD, we will send all information to the email address you have provided. This webpage also serves as a key source of information. If you have questions, please reach out to our ASSESS 24/7 phone number 650.287.5722 and/or our assess transition email ASSESStransition@cfd-research.com.