The article said that the MSPB took no stance on pay for performance, but while neither giving it a thumbs up or thumbs down they did point out a very crucial area that must be addressed:
“Agencies need to tailor pay systems to fit their unique circumstances and needs,” the report says, but it warns that past efforts to create new pay systems have been undermined by a lack of funding. “Long-term financial support under a variety of scenarios should be carefully planned before implementing pay for performance,” the report recommends.
Without funding there is nothing available to reward the high performers with so the system will fail without funding.