; and (C) be no broader than necessary to achieve the objective of retaining or attracting employees and other personnel serving in a covered position to allow the Commission to carry out the Commission’s responsibilities and activities in a timely, efficient, and effective manner. (3) Renewal The Chairman may renew a certification issued or renewed under this subsection if the Chairman determines that use of the authority of the Chairman under this subsection to fix compensation for employees or other personnel serving in a covered position is still necessary to retain or attract such employees or other personnel to allow the Commission to carry out the Commission’s responsibilities and activities in a timely, efficient, and effective manner. (4) Applicability The authority under this subsection to fix the compensation of employees or other personnel during any period when a certification issued or renewed under paragraph (1) is in effect shall apply with respect to an employee or other personnel serving in a covered position regardless of when the employee or other personnel was hired. (5) Retention of level of fixed compensation The termination of a certification issued or renewed under paragraph (1) shall not affect the compensation of an employee or other personnel serving in a covered position whose compensation was fixed by the Chairman in accordance with paragraph (1). (6) Limitation on compensation The Chairman may not use the authority under paragraph (1) to fix the compensation of employees or other personnel at an annual rate of basic pay higher than the annual salary payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code. (7) Experts and consultants (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the Chairman may— (i) obtain the services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code