Purchase Card Monthly Increase Requests

As the end of the Fiscal Year approaches, please remember when requesting a temporary monthly limit increase to your purchase card account, the Approving Official for the cardholder must send an email notification to Robin Carpenter, Agency Program Coordinator including the following information:  1. Cardholder name, 2. Dollar amount of the monthly increase requested, 3. Justification of need for increase, 4. Goods or services the cardholder would like to purchase, 5. Number of monthly cycles temporary increase is needed.  Please remember, there are NO single purchase limit increases ONLY monthly limit increases.  For additional information on purchase card use, please contact Robin Carpenter, at (202)482-4989 or via email at Robin.Carpenter@mail.doc.gov.

Correspondence Requests

This is a reminder for all ITA units that all "A" Priority and "B" Priority correspondence-related requests for extension, downgrade, decontrol, or transfer must be sent through the ITA Secretariat. If you are requesting an extension of the due date on controlled correspondence, be sure to provide clear and concise reasons as to why the extension is needed; if a tasker needs to be transferred from your unit to another, or to another bureau, please advise the Secretariat where the tasker should be reassigned.  Please try to make any of these requests in a timely manner, since they need to be reviewed and approved by the Office of the Secretary's Executive Secretariat. The requests can be made by sending an email to ITASEC@ita.doc.gov, or by fax to (202)482-4770.

Yearend Financial Management Training

Each year, budgets get tighter as our operating costs rise (pay raises, per diem increases, rent increases) faster than our budget and getting the maximum utility out of every dollar becomes critical.  This year has been particularly challenging for all the staff directly and indirectly involved in ITA’s financial management – there have been travel cut backs and even a hiring freeze to ensure that we could operate within our appropriation.  The Office of Financial Management and our accounting partner, the National Business Center in Denver Colorado will again be putting on yearend accounting training for those Headquarters staff that manage ITA funds. The training will be held August 14^th and 15^th in room HCHB Room TBD with sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and again at 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.  We encourage staff to register through their Resource Coordinator (IA - Robert Goodyear 2-5194, MAC - Tyler Shields 2-3544, MAS - Robert Pearson 2-4921, CS - David Tumblin 2-5206, Ex-Admin - Toni Persaud 2-5581 or with Roxanna Allen 2-8363).  Registration is important so that we can notify you of any scheduling changes between now and the date of the training.  The training materials will be available at the training site and on the OFM web site afterwards.  If you have any questions about the training please call Roxanna Allen at ext. 2-8363.

Operating Under A Continuing Resolution  

According to the Washington Post (see link below) it appears likely that Commerce will be operating under a continuing resolution (CR) at the beginning of FY 2007.  While each CR is unique they all generally restrict spending to approximately the same level as the exact same period of the previous year.  New programs planned for FY 2007 cannot start during the CR period.  As we learn more about the specific of the likely upcoming FY 2007 CR we will post them here.   http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/20/ AR2006072001705.html

ITA Bronze Medal Ceremony

The ITA Bronze Medal Ceremony is scheduled for August 9, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. in the HCHB Auditorium.  A reception will follow.   The Bronze Medal represents the highest form of recognition by the International Trade Administration and is given to our very best employees.  The recipients of the Bronze Medal have demonstrated both excellence in individual, organizational or group achievement and effective cooperation with others in the furtherance of ITA goals. The following categories will be recognized:  Outstanding Technical, Secretarial or Clerical Employee;  Outstanding Foreign Service National Technical, Secretarial or Clerical Employee;  Outstanding  Professional Employee;  Outstanding Supervisor or Manager; Outstanding Group; Outstanding Organization.  You are invited to attend this celebration of ITA's finest employees and congratulate them on their personal achievement.  If you have questions contact Ruben Pedroza at (202)482-3072.

 

DOC’s Job Application System Integrates with USAJOBS Website

The Department of Commerce (DOC) has integrated its job search system with USAJOBS to make it quicker and easier for applicants to find and apply for DOC jobs in which they are interested.  If you have not used USAJOBS previously, you will need to create a new account, choose a user name and password and then log-in. Creating an account will enable you to post your resume online, apply to DOC vacancies, and receive automated job alerts. After August 26, 2006, the information (i.e., resume, transcript, and supporting documents) you had in the former ACES system will no longer be available. Please take a few minutes to register and to update your resume so when the next ITA vacancy is announced you will be ready to apply.  Easy instructions on how to complete your USAJOBS registration is located on ITA/OHRM’s website at http://www.ita.doc.gov/hrm/. 

OPM Launches FSAFEDS Debit Card Pilot Program  

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is launching the trial use of a debit card for purchasing eligible health care products and services and eligible over -the-counter items as part of its efforts to create an even more user-friendly FSAFEDS program.  The card will be issued to GEHA enrollees who participate in the FSAFEDS' existing paperless reimbursement program.  Now with the FSAFEDS debit card, participants will be able to go into the local pharmacy and purchase eligible health care items that will be paid for as if they are using their favorite bank card.  The card offers substantial convenience, pilot participants must continue to save all receipts so that the FSAFEDS administrator, may verify expenses that can't be substantiated through paperless reimbursement. (For example, over-the-counter medicines.)  The debit cards can be used through December 31,2006, or until the available  balance  in a participant's health care account is gone.  OPM will evaluate the pilot in terms of ease of use, customer satisfaction, effect on the cash flow of the program and the need to manually "pay and chase" participants who use the card for non-eligible expenses.  You can find additional information on the pilot debit card program for FSAFEDS at http://www.opm.gov/news/opm-launches-fsafeds-

pilot-program,1060.aspx.  If you have any questions you can contact Carmen Montgomery at (202)482-3620.

Traveler’s Corner

Question:   What should a traveler do when a gift of cash or a check is offered for travel expenses by an outside source?

Answer:  Under no circumstances may a traveler accept cash.  Checks should be made payable to the Department of Commerce and not the traveler.  However, in the event that a traveler receives a check made out to him/her, the check must immediately be endorsed over to the Department and sent directly to the lockbox contractor.  Please be reminded that you must obtain advance approval to accept a gift of travel expenses from an outside source.  If you have questions, call your travel contact or Sharon Russell at (202)482-3267.

Where Do I Find….. ITA Administrative Guidance

You can find guidance for many administrative procedures at the Office of Organization and Management Support (OOMS) home page at http://www.trade.gov/ooms/oomshp.htm.  Each page includes a summary explanation for the basic rules and procedures, a short “how-to”, and a contact person if you have any questions or need additional information.  If you can’t find what you need, please call OOMS’ general number at (202)482-5436 and you will be directed to the staff member who can best assist you.