Headquarters ID’s

We are still receiving calls about the rules for requesting and renewing badges.  Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), “Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors” mandates that a trained “Sponsor” must approve new requests for Federal Identification (ID) badges.  To become a sponsor you have to through a presentation on security procedures at this website: http://www.osec.doc.gov/osy/hspd12/sponsors.htm and print out a certificate of completion.  The procedures are slightly different for current employees new employees, and contractors.  Current Employees. The supervisor can request renewing or replacing a badge by emailing security at HCHBsecurity@doc.gov.  New Employees.  An HR specialist will arrange for ID badges during the new employee orientation.   Contractors.  The Contracting Officer Representative (COR) must take the ‘Sponsor” training and accompany any new contractor to security to get a badge.  Forms and Information: The PIV (Personal Identify Verification) form is available at www.osec.doc.gov/osy/hspd12/applicants.htm and information is available at: http://www.osec.doc.gov/osy/HSPD12/HSPD-12Information.htm.   If you have questions, please call Hamilton Humes at (202)482-6123 or Hamilton.Humes@mail.doc.gov.

Procurement Cutoff Dates

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition Management Division (AMD) has adopted the following cutoff dates for receipt of Fiscal Year 2006 procurement requests from ITA. NOAA must receive a complete procurement request package with all necessary approvals and documentation by the cutoff date. Any requirement received after the cutoff date must be accompanied by either a hard-copy memo or an e-mail from the program Assistant Secretary to the Director of AMD, Gary Rice indicating the requisition number, description of service/supply, project officer, purpose and criticality of acquisition, priority of acquisition and reason for delayed submittal. All contracts on GSA schedule must be sent to NOAA no later than June 30 and orders for supplies no later than August 1. All other orders must reach NOAA as follows:

$0.0 - $24,999.99 August 31 

$25,000 - $100,000 July 17

$100,001.00 - $499,999.99 May 1

We recommend that, whenever possible, you use the purchase card. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Robin Carpenter at (202)482-4989.

Merit System Principles and Prohibited Personnel Practices

Employees often hear of Merit System Principles and Prohibited Personnel Practices, but many do not know exactly what they are or where to learn about them.   OPM is responsible for overseeing adherence to Merit System Principles in the Federal Government.  They are in §2301 (b) of title 5 U. S. Code.  To learn more, go to OPM’s website at http://www.opm.gov/omsoe/merit/legal.htm.  The Office of Special Counsel is responsible for ensuring adherence to the twelve prohibited personnel practices in §2303 of title 5 of U. S. Code.  To read them go to the Office of Special Counsel’s website at http://www.osc.gov/ppp.htm.  If you have questions about either, please contact Marcia Tyler at (202)606-9282 or via email at Marcia.Tyler@bea.gov.

Printing and Signing Hard Copy WebTAs

The Department's Office of Human Resources Management has rescinded the requirement to print hard copy webTAs for supervisory certification!  This change is effective immediately and applies to all webTA users.  As a reminder, supervisors are still required to certify webTAs on-line via the webTA application and are not to delegate this responsibility to timekeepers.  For more information go to:  Human Resources Management's website at: http://ohrm.os.doc.gov/Policy/PROD01_001038.html or contact Lorese Green via email Lorese.Green@mail.doc.gov or call (202)482-5232. 

Hospitality Requests

Form CD-464, Request for Authorization by Primary Operating Unit for Official Entertainment, should be completely filled out (answering all questions) and submitted to the ITA Accounting, Crystal Bush, room 4113 for funds approval and assigning of numbers. These forms should be completed at least two weeks prior to the event date.  All associated receipts for the approved funds should be submitted to Crystal Bush in room 4113 five business days after the event has occurred.  If an event has been cancelled it is very important to notify Crystal of this as well.  For detailed instructions on completing a CD-464 please go to:   http://www.ita.doc.gov/ooms/ofm05.htm. If you have questions contact Crystal Bush via email Crystal.Bush@mail.doc.gov or call (202)482-8365.  

The Secretary's Top Ten Issues

The Secretary recently shared his top ten issues with Commerce staff.  Many of them are related to ITA:  1. American Competitiveness Initiative, 2. Free Trade Agreements, 3. Intellectual Property Rights, 4. Katrina and Gulf Coast Support,  5. China,  6.  Immigration,  7. Scientifically Sound Environmental Leadership,       8. Leadership, 9. People - our greatest asset, 10. Results vs. Progress.  If you have questions contact Jim Donahue at (202)482-0210.  

FY 2008 Budget 

The Department of Commerce has started its planning for the FY 2008 budget.  In mid-May, ITA will submit its proposed budget to the Secretary for review.  Shortly after ITA submits its FY 2008 budget there will be an information sharing (more than a briefing but less than a hearing) with the Departmental Budget Officer.  Later in the summer the Secretary will give ITA feedback (a passback) on our proposed budget.  ITA will then prepare, in early September, the Secretarially-approved FY 2008 budget for review by the Office of Management and Budget.  The steps in the development of the President’s budget are as follows:  1. ITA prepares a budget request to the Secretary, 2. The Secretary’s representative (Budget Officer) holds meetings, 3. The Secretary renders decisions on the ITA budget, 4. ITA re-casts its budget to conform with the Secretary’s decisions and sends it to OMB,   5. OMB holds hearings on the ITA budget, 6. OMB renders decisions on the ITA budget (passback),  7. ITA incorporates those decisions into the President's Budget. If you have questions contact Doug Allis at (202)482-9151.

Procurement Corner

Question: How do I apply for a $25K purchase card?

Answer: To apply for a $25K card, an applicant must:

1. Complete a 40-hour Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) training course. Upon completion, the applicant will receive a certificate of completion.

2.  Successfully complete the GSA purchase card web-based training course located at the following website address: http://apps.fss.gsa.gov/webtraining/trainingdocs/

smartpaytraining/index.cfm. A certificate is automatically generated upon successful completion.

3.  Successfully complete the Section 508 web-based training course located as the following website address:  Section508.gov.  A certificate is automatically generated upon successful completion.

4. Fill out the ITA2058 – Government Purchase Card Set-Up Form

5.  Have the approving official draft a memo to Helen Hurcombe, Director of Acquisition and Grants, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to include a “justification of need.” The memo must indicate if the applicant is the only cardholder or if there’s an existing cardholder in the office, identify the reason why purchasing authority exceeding $2,500 is needed, identify the office’s historical purchasing patterns and other reasons requiring additional purchasing authority; include changes in the office causing an increase level of purchasing.

6.  REMINDER: Approving Officials of $25K cards are also required to take the SAP training. Submit your SAP certificate along with test score, GSA on-line certificate of completion, Section 508 certificate of completion, ITA2058 and “justification for need” memo and include a copy of the approving official’s SAP certificate and GSA on-line certificate to Robin Carpenter, Agency Program Coordinator.

If you have questions please contact Robin Carpenter at (202)482-4989 or via email at Robin_Carpenter@mail.doc.gov

Where Do I Find….. Information on the Effects of Leave Without Pay?

When an employee accrues leave without pay (LWOP), there is often an impact on his/her entitlement to or eligibility for Federal benefits and programs.  For example, for retirement benefits, a total of six months in a nonpay status in any calendar year is creditable service.  Coverage continues at no cost to the employee while in a nonpay status.  In the case of health benefits, enrollment continues for no more than 365 days in a nonpay status.  The Government contribution continues while the employee is in nonpay status.  The Government is also responsible for advancing from salary the employee share as well.  The employee may choose between paying the agency directly on a current basis or having the premiums accumulate and withheld from his/her pay upon return.  For accrual of annual and sick leave, when a full-time employee accumulates 80 hours of LWOP during a pay period, he/she does not earn annual or sick leave during that pay period.  The employee earns leave next succeeding pay periods until he/she again accumulates 80 hours of LWOP during a pay period.  To read more about the effect of LWOP on Federal benefits and programs, please go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website at http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/html/lwop_eff.htm. If you have any questions, please contact Vanessa Lewis at (202)482-5232 or via email at mailto:Vanessa_Lewis@ita.doc.gov or Dottie Bowling at (202)482-3504 or via email at mailto:Dorothy_Bowling@ita.doc.gov.