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The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is finalizing regulations to implement changes -known as the "rule of many" - authorized by Public Law 115-232, John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019, governing the selection of candidates from competitive lists of eligibles using validated, skills-based assessments and rigorous candidate ranking. The Rule of Many enables agencies to evaluate candidates based on their relative ability, skills, and knowledge using a numerical ranking system . The NDAA eliminated the requirement that an agency select only from the top three candidates at any given juncture (i.e., the "rule of three") in numerical rating and ranking and instead authorizes agencies to certify and consider a sufficient number of candidates, no fewer than three, using a cut-off score or other mechanism established by OPM. This change also affects how agencies may make selections under 5 CFR part 302, titled "Employment in the Excepted Service." These changes will provide expanded flexibility to agencies in the selection of candidates.