FAM No. 2001-04 (Travel and Transporation Act - Revised Procedures)
February 6, 2001
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION MEMORANDUM NO. 2001-004 (II.G.1.)
To: Bureau Assistant Directors, Administration
Chief Executive Officer, National Business Center
Bureau Finance Officers
Finance Officer, Financial Management Services
Director, Office of Acquisition and Property Management
From: Theodore Woronka /s/
Deputy Director, Office of Financial Management
Subject: Travel and Transportation Act - Revised Procedures
As you may recall, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued Interim
Rule 8 on July 16, 1999, to provide implementing regulations for certain
sections of the Travel and Transportation Act of 1998 (PL 105-264).
Additional refinements to GSA's regulations were issued on January 19, 2000
and April 21, 2000 in the Federal Register.
The purpose of this FAM is to revise the procedures issued under FAM 2000-011
to adjust for the regulation changes pertaining to employee relocation travel,
and the procedures for aging travel vouchers to determine if payments are
made late. In summary, the changes stipulate:
• Only en route and house hunting trips are subject to late payment
penalties and to be eligible must be submitted on separate vouchers.
(If a voucher for relocation expenses includes en route and house
hunting trips it does not need to be returned as an improper voucher.)
• The aging process for late payment penalties begins upon receipt
of the voucher in the designated approving official's office. If
the receipt date is not annotated, then a constructive receipt date
of five calendar days after the voucher was signed by the traveler
will apply.
• Vouchers submitted electronically to the designated approving
official will be the date considered received unless submitted
after normal working hours -- in such cases the next business day
will apply.
• Until May 1, 2002, improper vouchers are to be returned to the
traveler as soon as possible. On May 1, 2002, a voucher deemed
improper must be returned to the traveler within seven working days.
For your information and action attached are the revised procedures, a copy
of the Department's policy memorandum regarding Mandatory Use of the
Government-Issued Charge Card for Travel issued by the Assistant
Secretary - Policy, Management and Budget on March 29, 2000, and a copy of
the April 21, 2000, Federal Register announcement.
The revised procedures are to be implemented immediately. Should you have
any questions or require additional information on this subject, please
contact Bill Webber on (202) 208-5684.
Attachments:
1. Revised Procedures
2. Assistant Secretary Memo dated March 29, 2000
3. Federal Register Announcement dated April 21, 2000
Prior Financial Administration Memorandums on this subject:
2000-011 Dated May 1, 2000 - Inactive
99-032 dated August 11, 1999 - Inactive
98-031 dated November 16, 1998 - Active
