; and (B) may carry out the pilot program without regard to any requirement or limitation under section 4703 of title 5, United States Code (as amended by this Act), except that the pilot program shall be considered to be a demonstration project for purposes of subsection (a) of such section 4703. (c) Election of benefits package by employees (1) New employees An eligible employee who is appointed to a position in an Executive agency after the date on which the pilot program is established may elect to be covered by the benefits package in the pilot program or the benefits package otherwise applicable to civil service employees in the Executive agency. (2) Recent hires An eligible employee who is appointed to a position in an Executive agency during the 5-year period ending on the date on which the pilot program is established may elect to switch coverage to the benefits package in the pilot program. (3) Applicability An employee who elects the benefits package in the pilot program shall not be eligible for an annuity or annuitant health care benefits under chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code. (d) Program details The Director shall ensure that the benefits package authorized under this section is of equivalent value to the benefits package otherwise applicable to employees in the civil service in the applicable Executive agencies and offers the following: (1) An enhanced Thrift Savings Plan benefit, including eligibility for a total agency contribution of not less than 10 percent of pay, vested immediately. (2) Not less than 12 weeks of paid leave for a purpose described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 6382(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code, which shall be in addition to any accrued or accumulated annual or sick leave. (3) Immediate eligibility for agency-paid short-term and long-term disability-income insurance that replaces not less than 60 percent of the employee’s current salary. (4) Not less than 5 weeks of flexible paid time off accrued each year, in lieu of annual and sick leave. (5) Such