Copier and Printer Supplies 

All copiers, printers and fax machines (except for Xerox and Oce machines, which are serviced by the manufacturers, Xerox Capital Services and Oce-USA) in ITA HCHB, Ronald Reagan Building and Franklin Court are serviced, supplied and maintained by Cartridge Technologies Inc. (CTI), ALL printer and copier cartridges should be purchased through CTI.  You can place a service call or supply order by either calling CTI at (301)417-7202 or emailing at SERVICES@CTIMD.COM .  If you have questions, please contact Robin.Carpenter@mail.doc.gov  via email or call (202)482-4989.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)Training

From time to time, as needed, we schedule training on the Freedom of Information Act.  This training, which generally lasts two hours, answers questions such as what are the responsibilities of an office that has been assigned to respond to a FOIA request; what are the FOIA exemptions, and how can they be used; how do we handle material that may respond to a FOIA request but  originated at another agency, etc.  If you have new employees who are not familiar with the FOIA, or if it has been a while and some people need a refresher course, training can be arranged.  If you are interested in scheduling FOIA training, contact Linda Bell at (202)482-3032 or e-mail her at Linda.Bell@mail.doc.gov .

Official Passport

The Form CD-97, request for Security Assurance and Official Passport Clearance for Foreign Travel” which is used to request an official passport, must now include a valid accounting code.  Although the form does not currently have a place for an accounting code, ITA travelers must put a valid accounting code in Box #8, “Countries To be Visited and Purpose of Travel”.  DOC is updating the form to include a section for the accounting code.  Upon it’s completion, the form should be submitted to Theresa Hollowell in Room 2856.  This requirement does not change any other requirements in place for obtaining a passport.  If you have questions, please call Sharon Russell at (202)482-3267 or Hamilton Humes at (202)482-6123.

The Office of Management and Budget developed the Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) review model as part of the President's Management Agenda. The purpose of PART reviews is to assess government program performance and to gauge alignment of performance results with an agency's strategic plan. The PART examines all factors that affect and reflect program performance including program purpose and design; performance measurement, evaluations, and strategic planning; program management; and program results. The strength of the PART approach is the consistent application of analytical questions to assess all programs over time. This enables OMB and other oversight authorities to benchmark results between similar programs and to capture best practices.  OMB has recently launched ExpectMore.gov (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/), to provide PART information about federal programs, including ITA's “PARTed” programs, to the public. Sharing this information with the public enables the federal government to be transparent about a program's strengths and weaknesses and to indicate to them what actions are needed to improve performance and results. For additional information on the PART process or on ITA PARTs, contact Ed Meyer at (202)482-3304.

Traveler’s Corner

Question:  What is the maximum per diem rate a traveler will receive if lodging is not available at their temporary duty location?

Answer:  If lodging is not available at a traveler’s temporary duty location, he/she can be authorized the maximum per diem rate for a nearby location where lodging can be obtained.  If you have questions, call your travel contact or Sharon Russell at (202)482-3267.

Where Do I Find....Information on the Department’s new “Unity” headquarters voicemail system that is scheduled to replace the “Octel” system on February 27th?

At daily Departmental walk-in training sessions from February 15 and 16 in Room 6600A.

Daily Schedule:

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM

  1:00 PM – 1:30 PM

  1:45 PM – 2:15 PM

   2:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Each session is first come, first served, and limited to 20 people. At those sessions, you will be given a folder summarizing all the “how-tos" of the new Unity system. This folder will also be posted online when the new system is activated on February 27th. If you have questions, please contact Jeff Scherr at (202)482-3266 or Jeffrey.Scherr@mail.doc.gov.

ITA Comings and Goings 12/25/05 – 02/06/06

Arrivals – WELCOME!

ADMIN – Tonya Battle, Elvira Carter, Rosemary Plummer, Sarah Siddiqui;  IA – David Spooner, Jun Zhao;  MAC – Susan Wilson;  TP & FCS – Alexander Ellis, Leonardo Gorordo and Anna VanMeter.  

Departures

OUS – Melissa Langsam;  IA – Daniel Alexy, Alexandrer De Filippi, Peter Mueller;  MAC – Benjamin Chapman, Sarah Smiley;  MAS – Suleiman Bengharsa, Douglas Cleveland, Elizabeth King, Joyce Ross, Christine Sopko;  TP & USFCS – Jessica Brinkman, Marticia Falco, David Farley, Jennifer Gothard, Leeanne Haworth, James Joy, Kay Kuhlman, Kristen Laughlin, Richard Lenahan and  Terez Wood.