81 FR 5007 - Federal Travel Regulation; Optimal Use of the Government Contractor-Issued Travel Charge Card

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 19 (January 29, 2016)

GSA is proposing to amend the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) by updating the exemptions for mandatory use of the Government contractor-issued travel charge card to ensure the card is used as often as practicable.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 19 (Friday, January 29, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5007-5008]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01302]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

41 CFR Parts 301-51 and 301-70

[FTR Case 2015-303; Docket 2016-0005, Sequence 1]
RIN 3090-AJ68


Federal Travel Regulation; Optimal Use of the Government 
Contractor-Issued Travel Charge Card

AGENCY: Office of Government-wide Policy (OGP), General Services 
Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: GSA is proposing to amend the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) 
by updating the exemptions for mandatory use of the Government 
contractor-issued travel charge card to ensure the card is used as 
often as practicable.

DATES: Interested parties should submit written comments to the 
Regulatory Secretariat at one of the addresses shown below on or before 
March 29, 2016 to be considered in the formation of the final rule.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by FTR Case 2015-303 by any of 
the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching for 
``FTR Case 2015-303.'' Select the link ``Comment Now'' that corresponds 
with ``FTR Case 2015-303'' and follow the instructions provided at the 
screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and ``FTR Case 
2015-303'' on your attached document.
     Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory 
Secretariat (MVCB), Attn. Ms. Flowers, 1800 F Street NW., Washington, 
DC 20405.
    Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FTR Case 2015-
303, in all correspondence related to this case. Comments received 
generally will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, 
including any personal and/or business confidential information 
provided. To confirm receipt of your comment(s), please check 
www.regulations.gov approximately two to three days after submission to 
verify posting (except allow 30 days for posting of comments submitted 
by mail).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For clarification of content, contact 
Mr. Cy Greenidge, Program Analyst, Office of Government-wide Policy, at 
202-219-2349. Contact the Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB), 1800 F Street 
NW., Washington, DC 20405, 202-501-4755, for information pertaining to 
status or publication schedules. Please cite FTR Case 2015-303.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The FTR currently lists official travel expenses and classes of 
employees that are exempt from the mandatory use of the Government 
contractor-issued travel charge card. See FTR sections 301-51.2 and 
301-70.704. GSA has determined that these exemptions should be updated 
in order for agencies to maximize travel charge card rebates. This 
proposed rule emphasizes the need for agencies to maximize travel 
charge card rebates by increasing the use of the travel charge card. 
Additionally, this proposed rule updates the list of exemptions to the 
mandatory use of the Government contractor-issued travel charge card, 
with the goal being to increase the issuance and appropriate use of 
travel charge cards for employees on official travel.

B. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Executive Orders (E.O.s) 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess 
all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives, and if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). E.O. 
13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, 
of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. 
This proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action, and 
therefore, was not subject to review under Section 6(b) of E.O. 12866, 
Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. This proposed rule is 
also exempt from the Administrative Procedure Act pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(a)(2) because it applies to agency management or personnel.

D. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the proposed 
changes to the FTR do not impose recordkeeping or information 
collection requirements, or the collection of information from 
offerors, contractors, or members of the public that require the 
approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 44 U.S.C. 
3501, et seq.

[[Page 5008]]

E. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    This proposed rule is also exempt from Congressional review 
prescribed under 5 U.S.C. 801. This proposed rule is not a major rule 
under 5 U.S.C. 804.

List of Subjects in 41 CFR Parts 301-51 and 301-70

    Administrative practices and procedures, Government employees, 
Travel and transportation expenses.

    Dated: January 15, 2016.
Troy Cribb,
Associate Administrator (M), Office of Government-wide Policy.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
5701-5711, GSA proposes to amend 41 CFR parts--301-51 and 301-70 as set 
forth below:

PART 301-51--PAYING TRAVEL EXPENSES

0
1. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 301-51 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 5707. Subpart A is issued under the 
authority of Sec. 2, Pub. L. 105-264, 112 Stat. 2350 (5 U.S.C. 5701 
note); 40 U.S.C. 121(c).

0
2. Revise Sec.  301-51.2 to read as follows:


Sec.  301-51.2  Are there any official travel expenses that are exempt 
from the mandatory use of the Government contractor-issued travel 
charge card?

    Expenses for which payment through a travel charge card is 
impractical (e.g., vendor does not accept credit cards) or imposes 
unreasonable burdens or costs are exempt from use of the travel card 
(e.g. fees are charged for using the card). Your agency may also 
authorize exemption of an official travel expense when it is in the 
interest of the Government to do so (see Sec.  301-51.4).


Sec. Sec.  301-51.3 through 301-51.8   [Redesignated as Sec. Sec.  301-
51.4 through 301-51.9]

0
3. Redesignate Sec. Sec.  301-51.3 through 301-51.8 as Sec. Sec.  301-
51.4 through 301-51.9, respectively.

0
4. Add a new Sec.  301-51.3 to read as follows:


Sec.  301-51.3  What classes of employees are exempt from mandatory use 
of the Government contractor-issued travel charge card?

    The Administrator of General Services exempts the following classes 
of employees from mandatory use of the Government contractor-issued 
travel charge card:
    (a) Any employee who has an application pending for the Government 
contractor-issued travel charge card;
    (b) Any employee, when issuance of the Government contractor-issued 
travel charge card would adversely affect the mission or put the 
employee at risk; and
    (c) Any employee who is not eligible to receive a Government 
contractor-issued travel charge card.


Sec.  301-51.6  [Amended]

0
5. In the newly designated Sec.  301-51.6, after paragraph (c), remove 
the words, ``Note to Sec.  301-51.5'' and add the words ``Note to Sec.  
301-51.6'' in its place.

PART 301-70--INTERNAL POLICY AND PROCEDURE REQUIREMENTS

0
6. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 301-70 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 5707; 40 U.S.C. 121(c); Sec. 2, Pub. L. 
105-264, 112 Stat. 2350 (5 U.S.C. 5701, note), OMB Circular No. A-
126, revised May 22, 1992, and OMB Circular No. A-123, Appendix B, 
revised January 15, 2009.

0
7. Amend Sec.  301-70.700 by--
0
a. Removing from paragraph (b) the word ``or'';
0
b. Removing from paragraph (c) the period after the word ``exemption'' 
and adding ``; or'' in its place; and
0
c. Adding paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  301-70.700  Must our employees use a Government contractor-issued 
travel charge card for official travel expenses?

* * * * *
    (d) It is not in the interest of the Government to do so, or when 
payment through a travel charge card is impractical or imposes 
unreasonable burdens or costs on Federal employees.
0
8. Amend Sec.  301-70.701 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  301-70.701  Who has the authority to grant exemptions to 
mandatory use of Government contractor-issued travel charge card for 
official travel?

* * * * *
    (b) The head of a Federal agency or his/her designee(s) may exempt 
any payment, person, type or class of payments, or type or class of 
agency personnel when use of the travel charge card is impracticable or 
imposes unreasonable burdens or costs.
    (1) Agencies must manage their travel charge card programs to 
alleviate risks associated with issuing a travel charge card, where 
appropriate. If an employee is deemed eligible for a Government 
contractor-issued travel charge card and is expected to travel, the 
card must be issued and activated within 60 days of the travel charge 
card eligibility date, as determined by the agency.
    (2) Agencies should include information in their travel charge 
cardholder training to inform travelers of the statutory requirement to 
use the travel charge card and the benefits to the agency, as well as 
to the traveler, of its use. Such agency benefits include earning 
rebates that can be reinvested in mission delivery, as well as being 
able to readily identify the locations to which employees are 
traveling, which can be used to help determine the budgetary impact of 
lodging per diem rates. Some examples of benefits to the traveler are 
no interest charges, longer payment terms, no reliance on personal 
funds/personal credit cards, and the convenience of direct/split 
disbursement payment.


Sec.  301-70.702  [Amended]

0
9. Amend Sec.  301-70.702 by removing ``MTT'' and adding ``MAE'' in its 
place.
0
10. Revise Sec.  301-70.704 to read as follows:


Sec.  301-70.704  What classes of employees are exempt from mandatory 
use of the Government contractor-issued travel charge card?

    The Administrator of General Services exempts the following classes 
of employees from mandatory use of the Government contractor-issued 
travel charge card:
    (a) Any employee who has an application pending for the Government 
contractor-issued travel charge card;
    (b) Any employee, when issuance of the Government contractor-issued 
travel charge card would adversely affect the mission or put the 
employee at risk; and
    (c) Any employee who is not eligible to receive a Government 
contractor-issued travel charge card.

[FR Doc. 2016-01302 Filed 1-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6820-14-P