§ 301-7.4 - Rate adjustment requests for travel within CONUS.

(a) Federal agencies may submit a request to GSA for review of the costs covered by per diem in a particular city or area where the standard CONUS rate applies when travel to that location is repetitive or on a continuing basis and travelers’ experiences indicate that the prescribed rate is inadequate. Other per diem localities listed in appendix A will be surveyed on an annual basis by GSA to determine whether rates are adequate. Requests for per diem rate adjustments shall be submitted by the agency headquarters office to the General Services Administration, Office of Governmentwide Policy Attn: Travel and Transportation Management Policy Division (MTT), Washington, DC 20405. Agencies should designate an individual responsible for reviewing, coordinating, and submitting to GSA any requests from bureaus or subagencies. Agencies should submit their requests to GSA no later than May 1 of each year in order for the city or area to be included in the annual survey.

(b) Requests for rate adjustments shall include a city designation and a description of the surrounding location involved (county or other defined area) and a recommended rate supported by a statement explaining the circumstances that cause the existing rate to be inadequate. The request also must contain an estimate of the annual number of trips to the location, the average duration of such trips, and the primary purpose of travel to the locations.