; (ii) the Administration would not successfully accomplish an important mission without such an individual; and (iii) exercise of the authority is necessary to recruit an individual who is exceptionally well qualified for the position. (B) Limitations The authority granted under subparagraph (A) shall be subject to the following conditions: (i) The number of critical positions authorized by subparagraph (A) may not exceed 20 at any given time in the Administration. (ii) The term of an appointment under subparagraph (A) may not exceed 4 years. (iii) An individual appointed under subparagraph (A) may not have been an Administration employee at any time during the 2-year period preceding the date of appointment. (iv) Total annual compensation for any individual appointed under subparagraph (A) may not exceed the highest total annual compensation payable at the rate determined under section 104 of title 3, United States Code. (v) An individual appointed under subparagraph (A) may not be considered to be an employee for purposes of subchapter II of chapter 75 of title 5, United States Code. (C) Notification Each year, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a notification that lists each individual appointed under this paragraph. 104. Administration functions (a) Direct support (1) In general The Administration may issue direct loans, letters of credit, loan guarantees, insurance products, or such other credit support (including through participation as a co-lender or a lending member of a syndication) as the Administrator considers appropriate to deploy clean energy technologies if the Administrator has determined that deployment of the technologies would benefit or be accelerated by the support. (2) Eligibility criteria In carrying out this subsection and awarding credit support to projects, the Administrator shall account for— (A) how the technology rates based on an evaluation methodology established by the Advisory Council; (B) how the project fits with the goals developed by the Secretary under section 102