[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 211 (Wednesday, November 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55583-55584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27090]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
[GSA Bulletin FTR 17]
Federal Travel Regulation; Promoting, Encouraging, and Facilitating
the Use of Frequent Traveler Programs and Benefits
AGENCY: Federal Supply Service, GSA.
ACTION: Notice of bulletin.
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SUMMARY: The attached bulletin informs agencies of methods available
for use in complying with the requirement of Sec. 6008 of Pub. L. 103-
355, Oct. 13, 1994, to promote, encourage, and facilitate Federal
employee use while on official travel of airline, hotel, and car rental
vendor frequent traveler programs for the purpose of maximizing cost
savings.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This bulletin is effective November 1, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane E. Groat, General Services
Administration, Transportation Management Division (FBX), Washington,
DC 20406, telephone 703-305-5745.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 6008 of the Federal Acquisition
Streamlining Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-355, Oct. 13, 1994) requires the
Administrator of General Services to issue guidelines to ensure that
agencies promote, encourage, and facilitate Federal employee use when
on official travel of frequent traveler programs offered by airlines,
hotels, and car rental vendors for the purpose of realizing to the
maximum extent practicable cost savings for official travel.
The law further stipulates that any awards accrued through official
travel and granted under a frequent traveler program shall be used only
for official travel. The General Services Administration (GSA) must
report to the Congress by October 13, 1995, on efforts to promote the
use of frequent traveler programs by Federal employees.
GSA has identified an incentive awards program as well as the
frequent traveler benefits tracking services described in the attached
bulletin to assist agencies in complying with the requirements of Sec.
6008.
Dated: October 24, 1995.
Sean Allan,
Acting Assistant Commissioner, Office of Transportation and Property
Management.
Attachment
ATTACHMENT
[GSA Bulletin FTR 17]
October 24, 1995
To: Heads of Federal agencies
Subject: Promoting, encouraging, and facilitating the use of
frequent traveler programs and benefits
1. Purpose. This bulletin informs agencies of methods available for
use in complying with the requirement of Sec. 6008 of Pub. L. 103-355,
Oct. 13, 1994, to promote, encourage, and facilitate Federal employee
use of airline, hotel, and car rental vendor frequent traveler programs
for the purpose of maximizing cost savings while on official travel.
2. Background. Section 6008 of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining
Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-355, Oct. 13, 1994) (the Act) requires the
Administrator of General Services to issue guidelines to ensure that
agencies promote, encourage, and facilitate Federal employee use of
frequent traveler programs offered by airlines, hotels, and car rental
vendors for the purpose of realizing to the maximum extent practicable
cost savings for official travel. Section 6008 further requires that
``[a]ny awards granted under such a frequent traveler program accrued
through official travel shall be used only for official travel.''
a. In November 1989, the General Services Administration (GSA)
issued Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) Amendment 3 (54 FR 47523, Nov.
15, 1989) instructing agencies to avail themselves of cost savings
opportunities by encouraging employees to participate in frequent
traveler programs offered by airlines, hotels, and car rental vendors.
Amendment 3 authorized agencies to reimburse employees for the cost of
entering a frequent traveler program when the program is expected to
result in savings to the Government. Finally, Amendment 3 specified
that frequent traveler benefits earned in connection with official
travel must be used only for official travel. The provisions of
Amendment 3 currently are contained in FTR Sec. 301-1.103(f).
b. GSA is issuing the guidelines contained in this bulletin to
inform agencies of authority to establish incentive award programs to
assist agencies in promoting, and encouraging employee participation
in, frequent traveler programs. The guidelines also apprise agencies of
commercially available frequent traveler benefit management and
tracking services that are designed to help facilitate use of frequent
traveler programs to produce cost savings.
3. Cash incentive programs. The Government Employees Incentive
Awards Act of September 1, 1954 (5 U.S.C. 4501-4507), authorizes an
agency to pay a cash award to an employee who by his/her personal
effort contributes to the efficiency or economy of Government
operations. The Office of Personnel Management has implemented the
regulations and instructions under which agency awards programs are
carried out (5 CFR part 451).
Note: In keeping with the spirit of re-engineering travel,
agencies are encouraged to develop and implement an incentive awards
program as a means of rewarding Federal employees who through their
own initiative save the agency money while on official travel. As an
example, GSA has developed an internal Travel Savings Program to
award GSA employees who take the initiative to accrue travel
savings. GSA's program, where the awards are based on participation
and paid at the end of the fiscal year, is available as a guide.
4. Frequent traveler software and services. Frequent traveler
management software and services, which show the impact of frequent
traveler benefits
[[Page 55584]]
earned in connection with official travel, are commercially available
on the open market. The software and services include a variety of
recommended management options to save time, money, and staffing. The
software and services also make recommendations for policy development,
program enrollment, program administration, and earned award
processing.
5. Expiration date. This bulletin expires on December 31, 1996.
6. For further information contact. Jane E. Groat, General Services
Administration, Transportation Management Division (FBX), Washington,
DC 20406, telephone 703-305-5745.
[FR Doc. 95-27090 Filed 10-31-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-24-F
