If a contractual position is replaced by a budgeted position, a contractual employee in the contractual position may transfer to the budgeted position, if: the employee meets the minimum qualifications for the budgeted position and has at least 6 continuous months of satisfactory service as of the date on which the replacement occurs; there is a continuing need for the function to be performed; the agency can document a competitive hiring process; and the budgeted position replacing the contractual position was not available at the time the contractual employee was hired.