For the purpose of this chapter—

(1) "agency" means an Executive agency under section 105, but does not include the Government Accountability Office;

(2) "employee" includes—

(A) an individual paid under a statutory pay system defined in section 5302(1);

(B) a prevailing rate employee, as defined in section 5342(a)(2); and

(C) a category of employees included by the Office of Personnel Management following the review of an agency plan under section 5403(b)(1);

but does not include—

(i) an individual paid at an annual rate of basic pay for a level of the Executive Schedule, under subchapter II of chapter 53, or at a rate provided for one of those levels under another provision of law;

(ii) a member of the Senior Executive Service paid under subchapter VIII of chapter 53, or an equivalent system;

(iii) an administrative law judge paid under section 5372;

(iv) a contract appeals board member paid under section 5372a;

(v) an administrative appeals judge paid under section 5372b; and

(vi) an individual in a position which is excepted from the competitive service because of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character; and

(3) "Office" means the Office of Personnel Management.