Metrocheks

Metrocheks will be distributed to participating employees in Room B841B from March 21-23, 2006 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.  Please note that on March 23, 2006, the Department of Transportation (DOT) representatives will be at HCHB from 8:30 to 11:00 am only.  Employees are reminded to be sure to check that the Metrocheks given to them by the  DOT representative are correct before departing the distribution site.  Those employees who are unable to pickup their Metrocheks during the designated times can go to the Department of Transportation (DOT) headquarters, located at 400 7th Street, SW.  Take the Metrorail to L’Enfant Plaza, exiting at 7th and D.  The Metrocheks pickup window is located on the Plaza Level, Southwest corner of DOT in Room 206.  The office hours are Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with full coverage during lunch hours. If you have questions, please call Sharon Russell at (202)482-3267.

Purchase Card Guidance for Ordering Business Cards

You may use a purchase card to order business cards costing $60 or less.   However, for business cards exceeding $60, the employee MUST reimburse the DoC by writing a check made out to the "International Trade Administration" for any amount exceeding $60, and complete a form ITA-2057, “International Trade Administration Collections Transaction Record”.  Confirmation of reimbursement should be placed in the Cardholder’s file with the statement that includes the business card purchase.  In addition, you must provide a copy of the confirmation to the ITA Purchase Card Coordinator, Robin Carpenter.  If you have questions regarding purchase card use, please contact Robin Carpenter via email at Robin.Carpenter@mail.doc.gov or a (202)482-4989.

Department Seals, Emblems, Logos and Insignia

Please remember when requesting permission for an outside organization to use a Department seal, emblem, logo or insignia to submit your request to the Office of Organization and Management Support at least four weeks in advance of the event for which use of the logo is being requested.  This will allow for a thorough review of your request as it is moved through Departmental channels.  Please click on the following link: http://www.ita.doc.gov/ooms/ooms45.htm for further guidance on requesting permission to use a department logo.  Questions regarding this subject may be addressed to Jacqueline_Harris@mail.doc.gov or (202)482-4011.

Transition to Two-Year Appropriation Nearly Completed

Since early January, a team composed of staff from Accounting and Financial Systems in the Office of Financial Management, Department of State, and Interior’s National Business Center have worked to convert financial data from the former “no-year appropriation” structure to the new “two-year appropriation structure.  All the transactions, e.g., allotments, obligations, expenditures, etc., have been transferred to the two-year appropriation, and all that remains to be done is a final reconciliation.  Going forward, ITA will operate only under the two-year appropriation.  This change to a two-year appropriation will change our long-term operating strategies but for the average employee the differences will be no more significant than the addition of a few numbers at the bottom of a travel order or contract.  Resource Coordinators have been informed of the changes.  If you have questions contact Roxanna Allen via email Roxanna.Allen@mail.doc.gov or call (202)482-8363.

Traveler’s Corner

Question: What requirement must a traveler meet to operate a Government automobile for official travel?

Answer: A traveler must possess a valid State, District of Columbia, or territorial motor vehicle operator’s license and have a travel order which specifically authorizes use of a Government-furnished automobile.  If you have questions, call your travel contact or Sharon Russell at (202)482-3267

Where Do I Find.... W-2 information

Employee's can visit the National Finance Center (NFC) (http://www.nfc.usda.gov/) and access My Employee Personal Page (EEP) and print copies of the 2005 W-2s that are now posted. This W-2 includes salary payments for Pay Period 25, 2004 through Pay Period 24, 2005.  Employees who worked during this tax year for more than one organization serviced by the NFC will receive one W-2 containing the total wages paid by NFC for all organizations.  The W-2 will be issued under the name of the current employing organization.  Employees who use Turbo Tax to file their Federal Tax may now import the data from their W2 on the EPP directly to Turbo Tax.  For detailed instructions on how to use this feature, please check out NFC's Knowledge Base FAQ.   If you have any questions about EPP, please call Lorese Green at 202-482-5232 or via email at mailto:Lorese_Green@ita.doc.gov or Annjuana Rogers at 202-482-3806 or via email at mailto:Annjuana_Rogers@ita.doc.gov.

ITA Comings and Goings 01/22/06 – 03/06/06

 Arrivals – WELCOME!

 ADMIN – Michelle McIntyre;  MAC – Henry Hager;  TP & FCS – James Sitton.  

Departures

OUS – Scott Dunaway, Generro Jones;  ADMIN – Allison Hopkins;  MAC – Amy McDonald, Lisa Simmons;  TP & USFCS – Meriwether Farrell, Jason Field, Ellen House, Sean King and Chang Suh.  If you have any questions on this, please call Diane Evans at (202)482-4382 or via email at Diane.Evans@mail.doc.gov