Federal Travel Regulation; Airline Contract City-Pair Fares, Property Management Services, and Technical Corrections

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 103 (Friday, May 28, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29162-29165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13126]



[[Page 29161]]

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Part III





General Services Administration





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41 CFR Part 301-10 et al.



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Federal Travel Regulation; Airline Contract City-Pair Fares, Property 
Management Services, and Technical Corrections; Final Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 103 / Friday, May 28, 1999 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 29162]]



GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

41 CFR Parts 301-10, 302-1, 302-5, 302-6, 302-8, 302-10, 302-11, 
and 302-15

RIN 3090-AG87
[FTR Amendment 84]


Federal Travel Regulation; Airline Contract City-Pair Fares, 
Property Management Services, and Technical Corrections

AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy, GSA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule amends the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) to 
correct exceptions to the mandatory use requirement of a contract city-
pair fare, and to implement technical corrections made by the Travel 
and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 to chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code. This final rule amends, for purposes of relocation 
allowances, the definition of ``United States'', adds a definition of 
``Foreign Service of the United States'', allows for property 
management services when an employee transfers within the continental 
United States, and for househunting trip expenses to areas within the 
United States, as amended. It also replaces ``United States'' with 
``Government'' where the intent is to refer to the Government of the 
United States. This change will avoid confusion between the phrases 
``the Government of the United States'' and ``the United States'', 
which is defined to mean the several States, the District of Columbia, 
and certain territories.

DATES: Effective date: The provisions of this final rule are effective 
May 28, 1999.
    Applicability date: Additional contract exception included in the 
provisions of this final rule relating to part 301-10 (General Services 
Administration (GSA) airline contract city-pair fares) was effective as 
a matter of contract on October 1, 1998, and, therefore, the revisions 
to part 301-10 apply to travel performed on or after October 1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jim Harte, Travel and 
Transportation Management Policy Division, at 202-501-1538.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The primary purpose of this amendment is to establish policy 
consistent with technical corrections made by Pub. L. 105-264, Travel 
and Transportation Reform Act of 1998. This amendment also adds a fifth 
exception to use of a GSA airline contract city-pair fare, when smoking 
is permitted on the contract flight, and the nonsmoking section of the 
aircraft is not acceptable to the traveler.
    On October 19, 1998, the President signed the Travel and 
Transportation Reform Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-264) which, among other 
things, clarifies the definitions of ``United States'' and ``Foreign 
Service of the United States'', and allows an agency to pay for--
    (1) Property management services when an employee transfers within 
the continental United States; and
    (2) Househunting trip expenses to the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico 
and the Northern Mariana Islands, the territories and possessions of 
the United States, and the areas and installations in the Republic of 
Panama that are made available to the United States pursuant to the 
Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements.
    This amendment also includes miscellaneous technical corrections 
contained in Section 7 of the Act.

B. Executive Order 12866

    GSA has determined that this final rule is not a significant 
regulatory action for the purposes of Executive Order 12866 of 
September 30, 1993.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This final rule is not required to be published in the Federal 
Register for notice and comment; therefore, the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act does not apply.

D. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the final rule 
does not impose recordkeeping or information collection requirements, 
or the collection of information from offerors, contractors, or members 
of the public which require the approval of the Office of Management 
and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 501, et seq.

E. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    This final rule is also exempt from congressional review prescribed 
under 5 U.S.C. 801 since it relates solely to agency management and 
personnel.

List of Subjects in 41 CFR Parts 301-10, 302-1, 302-5, 302-6, 302-
8, 302-10, 302-11, and 302-15

    Entitlements and transfers, Government employees, Relocation 
allowances, Travel and transportation expenses.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 41 CFR parts 301-10, 
302-1, 302-5, 302-6, 302-8, 302-10, 302-11, and 302-15 are amended to 
read as follows:

PART 301-10--TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES

    1. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 301-10 continues to read 
as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707; 40 U.S.C. 486(c); 49 U.S.C. 40118.

    2. Section 301-10.107 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 301-10.107  When must I use a contract city-pair fare?

    You must always use a contract city-pair fare (an Internet list of 
city-pairs is available at https://pub.fss.gsa.gov/services/citypairs), 
if you are a civilian employee of an agency (see Sec. 301-1.1 of this 
chapter), unless one or more of the following conditions exist(s):
    (a) Space or a scheduled contract flight is not available in time 
to accomplish the purpose of your travel, or use of contract service 
would require you to incur unnecessary overnight lodging costs which 
would increase the total cost of the trip; or
    (b) The contractor's flight schedule is inconsistent with explicit 
policies of your Federal department or agency with regard to scheduling 
travel during normal working hours; or
    (c) A non-contract carrier offers a lower fare available to the 
general public, the use of which will result in a lower total trip cost 
to the Government, to include the combined costs of transportation, 
lodging, meals, and related expenses.

    Note to paragraph (c): This exception does not apply if the 
contract carrier offers a comparable fare and has seats available at 
that fare, or if the lower fare offered by a noncontract carrier is 
restricted to Government and military travelers on official business 
and may only be purchased with a GTR, contractor-issued charge card, 
or centrally billed account (e.g., YDG, MDG, ODG, VDG, and similar 
fares); or

    (d) Rail service is available and such service is cost effective 
and consistent with mission requirements; or
    (e) Smoking is permitted on the contract flight and the nonsmoking 
section of the aircraft for the contract flight is not acceptable to 
you.

PART 302-1--APPLICABILITY, GENERAL RULES, AND ELIGIBILITY 
CONDITIONS

    3. The authority citation for part 302-1 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5738; 20 U.S.C. 905(a); E.O. 11609, 36 FR 
13747, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp., p. 586.


[[Page 29163]]


    4. Section 302-1.4 is amended by revising paragraph (b) and adding 
paragraph (m) to read as follows:


Sec. 302-1.4  Definitions.

* * * * *
    (b) United States. United States means the several States, the 
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth 
of the Northern Mariana Islands, the territories and possessions of the 
United States, and the areas and installations in the Republic of 
Panama that are made available to the United States pursuant to the 
Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements (as described in 
section 3(a) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979).
* * * * *
    (m) Foreign Service of the United States. Foreign Service of the 
United States means the Foreign Service as constituted under the 
Foreign Service Act of 1980.


Sec. 302-1.5  [Amended]

    5. Section 302-1.5 is amended in the second sentence of paragraph 
(a), the last sentence of paragraph (b)(1)(iii), and the second 
sentence of paragraph (c) by removing the words ``United States'' each 
time they appear and adding the word ``Government'' in their place.


Sec. 302-1.12  [Amended]

    6. Section 302-1.12 is amended in paragraphs (e)(1), (e)(5), and in 
the first sentence of (e)(6) by removing the words ``the 50 States, the 
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or a United States 
territory or possession'' and adding the words ``the United States'' in 
their place.


Sec. 302-1.13  [Amended]

    7. Section 302-1.13 is amended in paragraph (b)(3) by removing the 
words ``the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a United States territory 
or possession,'' and ``the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or a United 
States territory or possession'' and adding the words ``the United 
States'' in their place; and in paragraph (d)(1)(iv)(A) by removing the 
words ``United States'' and inserting the word ``Government'' in their 
place.


Sec. 302-1.105  [Amended]

    8. Section 302-1.105 is amended in paragraph (a) by removing the 
words ``the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a United States territory 
or possession, or the former Canal Zone area (i.e., areas and 
installations in the Republic of Panama made available to the United 
States under the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements (as 
described in section 3(a) of the Panama Canal Act of 1979))'' and 
adding the words ``the United States'' in their place.


Sec. 302-1.228  [Amended]

    9. Section 302-1.228 is amended in paragraph (c) by removing the 
words ``under part 302-14'' and adding the words ``under part 302-15'' 
in their place.

PART 302-5--ALLOWANCE FOR TEMPORARY QUARTERS SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES

    10. The authority citation for part 302-5 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5738; 20 U.S.C. 905(a); E.O. 11609, 36 FR 
13747, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp., p. 586.


Sec. 302-5.4  [Amended]

    11. Section 302-5.4 is amended in paragraph (a) by removing the 
words ``the United States, its territories or possessions, the 
Commonwealths of Puerto Rico or the Northern Mariana Islands, or the 
former Canal Zone area (i.e., areas and installations in the Republic 
of Panama made available to the United States pursuant to the Panama 
Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements (as described in 22 U.S.C. 
3602(a)))'' and adding the words ``the United States'' in their place.


Sec. 302-5.17  [Amended]

    12. Section 302-5.17 is amended by removing the words ``the United 
States, its territories or possessions, the Commonwealths of Puerto 
Rico or the Northern Mariana Islands, or the former Canal Zone area 
(i.e., areas and installations in the Republic of Panama made available 
to the United States pursuant to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and 
related agreements (as described in 22 U.S.C. 3602(a)))'' and adding 
the words ``the United States'' in their place.

PART 302-6--ALLOWANCE FOR EXPENSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH 
RESIDENCE TRANSACTIONS

    13. The authority citation for part 302-6 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5738; and E.O. 11609, 36 FR 13747, 3 CFR, 
1971-1975, Comp., p. 586.


Sec. 302-6.1  [Amended]

    14. Section 302-6.1 is amended in paragraph (a) by removing the 
words ``the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a 
United States territory or possession, or the former Canal Zone area 
(i.e., areas and installations in the Republic of Panama made available 
to the United States under the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related 
agreements (as described in section 3(a) of the Panama Canal Act of 
1979))'' and adding the words ``the United States'' in their place, and 
in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) by removing the words ``the United States, its 
territories or possessions, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the former Canal Zone 
area (i.e., areas and installations in the Republic of Panama made 
available to the United States pursuant to the Panama Canal Treaty of 
1977 and related agreements (as described in section 3(a) of the Panama 
Canal Act of 1979))'' and adding the words ``the United States'' in 
their place.

PART 302-8--TRANSPORTATION AND TEMPORARY STORAGE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS 
AND PROFESSIONAL BOOKS, PAPERS, AND EQUIPMENT

    15. The authority citation for part 302-8 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5738; 20 U.S.C. 905(a); E.O. 11609, 36 FR 
13747, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp., p. 586.


Sec. 302-8.5  [Amended]

    16. Section 302-8.5 is amended in the first sentence of paragraph 
(b)(2) by removing the words ``within or outside the United States''.

PART 302-10--ALLOWANCES FOR TRANSPORTATION AND EMERGENCY STORAGE OF 
A PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE

    17. The authority citation for part 302-10 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5738; 20 U.S.C. 905(a); E.O. 11609, 36 FR 
13747, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp., p. 586.


Sec. 302-10.174  [Amended]

    18. Section 302-10.174 is amended by removing the words ``the 
United States'' and adding the words ``the several States and the 
District of Columbia'' in their place.

[[Page 29164]]

PART 302-11--RELOCATION INCOME TAX (RIT) ALLOWANCE

    19. The authority citation for part 302-11 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5738; 20 U.S.C. 905(a); E.O. 11609, 36 FR 
13747, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp., p. 586.


Sec. 302-11.8  [Amended]

    20. Section 302-11.8 is amended in the second sentence of paragraph 
(e)(4)(i) by removing the words ``United States'' and adding the words 
``U.S. Government'' in their place.


Sec. 302-11.10  [Amended]

    21. Section 302-11.10 is amended in paragraph (c) by removing the 
words ``United States'' wherever they appear and adding the word 
``Government'' in their place.


Sec. 302-11.11  [Amended]

    22. Section 302-11.11 is amended by removing the words ``United 
States'' and adding the word ``Government'' in their place.
    23. Part 302-15 is revised to read as follows:

PART 302-15--ALLOWANCE FOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Subpart A--General Rules for the Employee

Sec.
302-15.1  What are ``property management services''?
302-15.2  What are the purposes of the allowance for property 
management services?
302-15.3  Am I eligible for payment for property management services 
under this subpart?
302-15.4  Who is not eligible for payment for property management 
services?
302-15.5  Is my agency required to authorize payment for property 
management services?
302-15.6  Under what circumstances may my agency authorize payment 
under this part?
302-15.7  For what property may my agency authorize payment under 
this part?
302-15.8  When my agency authorizes payment for me under this part, 
am I obligated to use such services, or may I elect instead to sell 
my residence at Government expense?
302-15.9  Must I repay property management expenses my agency paid 
under this part if I elect to sell my former residence in the United 
States at Government expense when I am transferred from my current 
foreign post of duty to an official station in the United States 
other than the one I left?
302-15.10  How long may my agency pay under this part?
302-15.11  If my agency authorized, and I elected to receive, 
payment for property management expenses, may I later elect to sell 
my residence at Government expense?
302-15.12  If my agency is paying for property management services 
under this part and my service agreement expires, what must I do to 
ensure that payment for property management services continues?
302-15.13  What are the income tax consequences when my agency pays 
for my property management services?

Subpart B--Agency Responsibilities

302-15.70  What governing policies must we establish for the 
allowance for property management services?
    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5738; 20 U.S.C. 905(a); E.O. 11609, 36 FR 
13747, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp., p. 586.

Subpart A--General Rules for the Employee

    Note to subpart A: Use of the pronouns ``I'' and ``you'' 
throughout this subpart refers to the employee.


Sec. 302-15.1  What are ``property management services''?

    ``Property management services'' are programs provided by private 
companies for a fee, which help an employee to manage his/her residence 
at the old official station as a rental property. These services 
typically include, but are not limited to, obtaining a tenant, 
negotiating the lease, inspecting the property regularly, managing 
repairs and maintenance, enforcing lease terms, collecting the rent, 
paying the mortgage and other carrying expenses from rental proceeds 
and/or funds of the employee, and accounting for the transactions and 
providing periodic reports to the employee.


Sec. 302-15.2  What are the purposes of the allowance for property 
management services?

    The purpose is to reduce overall Government relocation costs when 
used instead of sale of the employee's residence at Government expense. 
When authorized in connection with an employee's transfer to a foreign 
post of duty, the purpose is to relieve the employee of the costs of 
maintaining a home in the United States while stationed at a foreign 
post of duty.


Sec. 302-15.3  Am I eligible for payment for property management 
services under this subpart?

    Yes, when:
    (a) You transfer in the interest of the Government; and
    (b) You and/or (a) member(s) of your immediate family hold title to 
a residence which you are eligible to sell at Government expense under 
part 302-6 or 302-12 of this chapter.


Sec. 302-15.4  Who is not eligible for payment for property management 
services?

    New appointees, employees assigned under the Government Employees 
Training Act (5 U.S.C. 4109), and employees transferring wholly outside 
the United States are not eligible. However, relocations wholly outside 
the United States do not affect previously authorized property 
management services as long as the employee continues to meet the 
requirements of Sec. 302-15.6 and any other conditions established by 
the agency.


Sec. 302-15.5  Is my agency required to authorize payment for property 
management services?

    No, your agency determines:
    (a) When you meet the conditions set forth in Sec. 302-15.3;
    (b) When to authorize payment for these services; and
    (c) What procedures you must follow when it authorizes such 
payment.


Sec. 302-15.6  Under what circumstances may my agency authorize payment 
under this part?

    (a) For a relocation to an official station in the United States, 
your agency may authorize payment under this part when:
    (1) You are being returned from a foreign post of duty to a 
different official station than the one from which you were transferred 
for your foreign tour of duty;
    (2) Your agency has determined that property management services 
are more advantageous and cost effective for the Government than sale 
of your residence;
    (3) You have signed a service agreement; and
    (4) You meet any other conditions that your agency has established.
    (b) For relocations to official stations outside the United States, 
your agency will authorize payment under this part when you meet 
conditions set forth in paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(4) of this section.


Sec. 302-15.7  For what property may my agency authorize payment under 
this part?

    Payment may be authorized only on your residence at the last 
official station in the United States from which you transferred.


Sec. 302-15.8  When my agency authorizes payment for me under this 
part, am I obligated to use such services, or may I elect instead to 
sell my residence at Government expense?

    You are not obligated to use your authorized property management

[[Page 29165]]

services allowance. You have the option of choosing to sell your 
residence at Government expense or to use the property management 
services allowance.


Sec. 302-15.9  Must I repay property management expenses my agency paid 
under this part if I elect to sell my former residence in the United 
States at Government expense when I am transferred from my current 
foreign post of duty to an official station in the United States other 
than the one I left?

    No. The authority for your agency to pay for property management 
services under this part when you are transferred to a foreign post of 
duty arises from your transfer to the foreign post of duty and is 
separate from, and in addition to, the authority to sell your residence 
at Government expense when you are transferred to an official station 
in the United States other than the official station from which you 
were transferred to the foreign post of duty.


Sec. 302-15.10  How long may my agency pay under this part?

    Your agency may pay:
    (a) For transfers within the United States, a period not to exceed 
2 years from your effective date of transfer, with up to a 1-year 
extension, under the same conditions required in Sec. 302-6.1(e)(2) of 
this chapter; or
    (b) From the time you transfer to a foreign post of duty until one 
of the following occurs:
    (1) You transfer back to an official station in the United States;
    (2) You complete a service agreement at your post of duty and 
remain there, but do not sign a new service agreement; or
    (3) You separate from Government service.


Sec. 302-15.11  If my agency authorized, and I elected to receive, 
payment for property management expenses, may I later elect to sell my 
residence at Government expense?

    Yes, provided:
    (a) Your agency allows you to change your election of payment for 
property management expenses to an election of sale of your residence 
at Government expense; and
    (b) Payment for sale of your residence at Government expense is 
offset in accordance with your agency's policy established under 
Sec. 302-15.70(d).


Sec. 302-15.12  If my agency is paying for property management services 
under this part, and my service agreement expires, what must I do to 
ensure that payment for property management services continues?

    You must sign a new service agreement. (See Sec. 302-1.5 of this 
chapter.)


Sec. 302-15.13  What are the income tax consequences when my agency 
pays for my property management services?

    You will be taxed on the amount of expenses your agency pays for 
property management services whether it reimburses you directly or 
whether it pays a relocation services company to manage your residence. 
Your agency must pay you a relocation income tax (RIT) allowance for 
the additional Federal, State and local income taxes you incur on 
property management expenses it reimburses you or pays on your behalf. 
You may wish to consult with a tax advisor to determine whether you 
will incur any additional tax liability, unrelated to your agency's 
payment of your property management expenses, as a result of 
maintaining your residence as a rental property.

Subpart B--Agency Responsibilities

    Note to subpart B: Use of the pronouns ``we'' and ``you'' 
throughout this subpart refers to the agency.


Sec. 302-15.70  What governing policies must we establish for the 
allowance for property management services?

    You must establish policies and procedures governing:
    (a) When you will authorize payment for property management 
services for an employee who transfers in the interest of the 
Government;
    (b) Who will determine, for relocations to official stations in the 
United States, whether payment for property management services is more 
advantageous and cost effective than sale of an employee's residence at 
Government expense;
    (c) If and when you will allow an employee who was offered and 
accepted payment for property management services to change his/her 
mind and elect instead to sell his/her residence at Government expense 
in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section; and
    (d) How you will offset expenses you have paid for property 
management services against payable expenses for sale of the employee's 
residence when an eligible employee who elected payment for property 
management services later changes his/her mind and elects instead to 
sell his/her residence at Government expense.

    Dated: May 7, 1999.
David. J. Barram,
Administrator of General Services.
[FR Doc. 99-13126 Filed 5-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-34-P