ADMINISTRIVIAL PURSUITS

In this Issue

OIG Semiannual Report
Collection Transaction Records
CD 464 Hospitality
ITAs Best Place to Work
Thrift Savings Plan

Features

Trivia Question Travelers Corner
Where Do I Find

Office of the Inspector General Semiannual Report

The Office of the Inspector General's (OIG) September 2007 Semiannual Report to the Congress has been finalized and is located on the OIG's website. ITA is discussed briefly on pages 12-13 of the report, and more fully beginning on page 33. The OIG notes that during the next semiannual period, they will continue to monitor Commerce's response to recommendations made in recent reports on CS operations at Asian and South American posts and on trade coordination. The report states that future OIG reviews may focus on the Department's efforts to oversee United States foreign trade zones or to increase exports to countries that have recently signed free trade agreements with the United States. The report also states that the OIG will continue its periodic inspections of CS overseas posts, as mandated by the 1988 Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act. Attached is the link to the OIG's website: http://www.oig.doc.gov. If you have any questions regarding this article, or ITA's relationship to the OIG, you may call Linda Bell at (202) 482-3032.

Collections Transaction Record

Has your office received a check and you don’t know what to do with it? Each ITA office is responsible for depositing any checks that they receive. To make a deposit, an ITA 2057, Collections Transaction Record (CTR) form must be completed. The CTR can be found at: http://ourplace.ita.doc.gov/. Instructions on completing the form can be found at: https://webapp04.nist.gov:4449/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/CBS_ PORTAL/CBS_POSTLOGIN/CBS_EDUCATION_HOME/ITA_CHECK_ COLLECTION_COMMUNICATION_V1.PDF Once finished, this form along with the check(s) should be mailed to the Lockbox. The address for the Lockbox is: CITIBANK; ITA-6395; 1615 Brett Road; New Castle, DE 19720-2425. For additional information, please contact Crystal Bush at (202) 482-8365.

CD-464/Hospitality - Did You Know?

Did you know that submission of CD-464s, Official Request for Entertainment, commonly referred to as Hospitality Request, can be submitted prior to finalizing your attendees list? Taking the following steps will assist and alleviate late submissions of CD-464s:

Submit the CD-464 with a draft attendees list;
Annotate that the attendees list has not been finalized; and
Submit the final list to the ITA Accounting Office prior to the event taking place. Note: All other policies for attendees still apply.

Accounting will provide you with the approved copy once the final list has been received; The CD-464 is an estimate of costs; This . For more information, please contact Crystal Bush at (202) 482-8365.

ITA’s Best Place to Work Website

In case you are not aware, ITA has a Best Place To Work website. In order to address the results of the 2006 Human Capital Survey, ITA established an Employee Engagement Steering Group (EESG) that works closely with the ITA’s Strategic Planning Leadership Team (SPLT) in an effort to improve ITA. Click below to view the Best Place To Work website and latest information on the EESG, the Go Teams, Employee Suggestions for improving ITA and the 2006 Federal Human Capital Survey Results. http://www.ita.doc.gov/hrm/bestplacetowork.htm. If you have any questions about this information, please call Ruben Pedroza at (202) 482-3072 or via email at Ruben.Pedroza@mail.doc.gov.

Thrift Savings Plan E-Mail Updates

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is pleased to offer a free e-mail subscription service. This service allows participants to receive notifications by e-mail when new information is available on the TSP Web site. With this service, you automatically receive an e-mail when there is new or updated information on the TSP Web site for items of interest to you without having to visit the TSP Web site to check for changes. This is a free service sponsored by the TSP and provided through GovDelivery. Your e-mail address will be used to notify you when updates are made; it will not be used for any other purpose by the TSP. To subscribe to this service, visit http://www.tsp.gov/. If you have any questions, contact Karen Brown at (202) 482-8065 or via email at Karen.Brown@mail.doc.gov.

Trivia Question

Can you answer the trivia question? Be featured in our bi-weekly Administrivial Pursuits by answering or providing trivia questions. Questions and answers may be submitted to Nina Harris via email Nina.Harris@mail.doc.gov.

Trivia Question: If a cardholder's Single Purchase Limit (SPL) is $3,000, can that cardholder purchase computer equipment for $2,500 one day and make the same exact dollar amount the next day to stay under their SPL?

Answer to Last Issue's Question: Is a traveler’s allowance for meals reduced if a meal is provided by a common carrier or a complimentary meal is provided by the hotel/motel? Answer: No. A meal provided by a common carrier or a complimentary meal provided by a hotel/motel does not affect your per diem. However, meals provided by any other source must be deducted from your M&IE. If you have questions, please call your travel contact or Sharon Russell at (202) 482-3267.

Travelers Corner

Question: Must a traveler use their agency’s Travel Management Service (TMS) to make travel arrangements?

Answer: Yes, ITA travelers must use ADTRAV DOC Travel Management Service, to make transportation, lodging and car rental reservation. If you have questions, please call your travel contact or Sharon Russell at (202) 482-3267.

Where Do I Find... CBS Month End Portal Reports for ITA?

The CBS Month End Portal Reports are located under the CBS reports application. Click on "CBS Month End Reports" and then click on the link for "International Trade Administration, Bureau 55". You will then be directed to a series of month end reports containing data as of the month end close. The latest reports available are for November 2007. You can visit the CBS portal at : http://cbs-i.nist.gov/portal. If you have questions or need additional information, please call Danny Alley at (202) 482-2119.