News Releases
GSA Bulletins Ease FTR Provisions for IkeGSA #10535 September 11, 2008 WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, took emergency steps to facilitate travel, lodging, and fuel purchases in certain counties and other affected areas in the state of Texas threatened by Hurricane Ike. GSA’s actions followed President Bush’s State of Emergency Declaration today for the following counties in the state of Texas: Aransas, Brazoria, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Hidalgo, Jackson, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Kennedy, Kleberg, Liberty, Matagorda, Nueces, Orange, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, Wharton, and Willacy. GSA signed Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) Bulletin 08-11, which waives Section 301-70.200(f) of the FTR so that an agency may determine that reimbursement under the actual expense method is appropriate for the affected areas in each individual case. The Bulletin further authorizes agencies to waive multiple relocation provisions of the FTR, namely sections 302-6.9, 302-6.102, and 302-5.13, if applicable, for the affected areas. GSA also signed Federal Management Regulation Bulletin B-21, which provides a deviation for executive agencies to purchase premium fuel for government owned and leased vehicles when lower grade fuels are not available in the affected areas. GSA took these actions with the expectation that finding lodging facilities, adequate meals, and/or lower grade fuel in the affected areas may be difficult, according to Kevin Messner, Associate Administrator, Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Governmentwide Policy. The GSA bulletins will be published on the agency’s website (www.gsa.gov) and in the Federal Register as soon as possible.
### GSA provides a centralized delivery system of products and services to the federal government, leveraging its enormous buying power to get the best value for taxpayers. • Founded in 1949, GSA manages more than one-fourth of the government’s total procurement dollars and influences the management of $500 billion in federal assets, including 8,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 208,000 vehicles. • GSA helps preserve our past and define our future, as a steward of more than 420 historic properties, and as manager of USA.gov, the official portal to federal government information and services. • GSA’s mission to provide superior workplaces, expert technology solutions, acquisition services, purchasing and E-Gov travel solutions and management policies, at best value, allows federal agencies to focus on their core missions.
Did You Know? GSA is co-lead for Emergency Response Function (ESF) 7, Logistics and Resource Support, during federally declared disasters. Index of News Releases
Last Reviewed 9/11/2008
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