WebCIMS

This is a reminder that all WebCIMS users need to close out their controlled correspondence assignments when they are completed.  If your assignment is not closed, it will show up as “overdue” in your WebCIMS inbox.  When your assignment is completed, go to the folder and click on your assignment icon.  Close your assignment by clicking Close on the Navigation Bar.  If you have further questions about how to close assignments in WebCIMS, please contact the ITA Secretariat, at (202)482-5101.  You can also find guidance and instructions on WebCIMS features at the ITA Secretariat website, located at www.ita.doc.gov/ita_sec/ .  Click on the “WebCIMS User Information” link to access the WebCIMS users guide.

CD 410 Work Request

All CD 410 work requests are processed and tracked by the Office of Organization and Management Support (OOMS).  To fill out a CD 410, please log on to “OurPlace”, click on “E-forms”, then “CD forms”, and scroll down to “CD 410 - Office of Real Property Programs Work Requests.”  Next, complete all of Section I, line items 1 to 6.  You must enter a valid appropriation code for the current fiscal year in line 5.  Print out the completed form.  Your CD 410 must be signed and approved by an authorizing official with budget authority in line 6.  Return the completed, signed form to OOMS via interoffice mail to Diana Smith, or drop it off in person at room 4001.  If you have any questions, please contact Diana Smith at (202)482-3265.

2007 Federal Pay Raise

As it stands now, Federal employees will receive a 1.7 percent across-the-board pay increase effective in the first pay period of 2007 on January 7, 2007 (the official pay date is February 1, 2007).  In accordance with Title 5, U.S.C., the President exercised his authority to set an alternative January 2007 locality pay increase of 0.5 percent bringing the total overall average pay increase to 2.2 percent.  The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) anticipates that an executive order authorizing the pay increase will be issued later this month.  The President’s locality pay plan (dated November 30, 2006) may be viewed at a White House website at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/11/20061130-17-html. OPM has also posted draft pay tables on its website but they are not final until the executive order is issued.  The draft salary tables can be seen at http://www.opm.gov/oca/07tables/ and then click on DRAFT General Schedule and Locality Pay Tables.  You can scroll down to the appropriate locality area to view the salary table for that area.  Federal employees who work in metropolitan Washington, DC are covered by the table for Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-PA-VA-WV. Federal employees who work elsewhere should choose the appropriate geographical chart to see what their proposed pay will be in 2007.  If you have any questions about the pay raise, please contact Lorese Green at (202)482-5232 or via email at Lorese_Green@ita.doc.gov.

Thrift Savings Plan -- Annual Limit on Elective Deferrals

Don’t lose out on Matching Contributions!  Highly paid FERS employee’s contributions to TSP may cause them to reach the IRS elective deferral limit before the end of the tax year.  The tax year begins with pay period 25 and ends with pay period 24 of the following year. (Example:  Pay period 25 began December 10, 2006 and ends pay period 24, December 8, 2007).  For 2007, the elective deferral limit is $15,500 and once you have contributed $15,500 you may not make any more (regular) tax-deferred employee contributions for the rest of the year.  This means that you could lose out on some Agency Matching Contributions as outlined at http://www.tsp.gov/features/chapter01.html#sub4.  Employees are encouraged to use the TSP on-line calculator at http://www.tsp.gov/calc/contributions/index.html to receive the agency matching contributions throughout the year without hitting the limit.  Visit NFC’s Employee Personal Page http://www.nfc.usda.gov/ to make changes to your TSP account. You can find additional information regarding your TSP account at www.tsp.gov or contact Vanessa_Lewis@ita.doc.gov or at (202)482-8327.

Where Do I Find.... ITA 2068 Signature Card?

The ITA - 2068, "Designation/Revocation of Authority to Approve Obligating and Payment Documents" (Signature Card) can be found at OurPlace Under E-Forms. If you have questions, contact Crystal Bush at (202)482-8365.