Invitation to Orientation Training Course

ITA will host Orientation Training for new and current ITA employees on June 13, 2006.  The training explains ITA’s strategic goals and objectives so that new employees can fully contribute to the mission of the organization.  It also emphasizes the benefits of ITA’s recently implemented reorganization and showcases the synergies among all four ITA units on crosscutting issues. You will participate in a full day of training that is highly interactive and conducted by a professional trainer. This course is open to career employees new to ITA since February 2006, to employees who were not able to take the last course in February 8, and to any ITA employee that would benefit from this training opportunity. Space is limited, so please take advantage of this great opportunity to learn about your organization. Your senior management fully supports your participation in this program. Deputy Under Secretary Michelle O’Neill will provide opening remarks.  You will also have the opportunity to interact with senior managers from your program area.  To register for this training, contact Charles Jefferson in the Office of Organization and Management Support (OOMS) via email at charles.jefferson@mail.doc.gov or telephone at (202)482-6078.  Detailed information regarding the training agenda, time and location will be provided to registered participants in advance of the training. 

Advisory Committees

An advisory committee is a group established by statute, the President, or senior agency official to obtain advice on issues or policies.  If the responsibility to establish an advisory committee has been placed upon your program unit and you do not know where to begin, please click on the following link http://www.ita.doc.gov/ooms/APTable.htm, scroll down to Chapter 6. Management and Systems and click on Advisory Committees.  This takes you directly to the International Trade Administration’s (ITA’s) guidance on advisory committees.  If you need additional assistance you may contact Jacqueline Harris, ITA Advisory Committee Liaison, at (202)482-4011 or via email at Jacqueline.Harris@mail.doc.gov. 

Gift and Bequest

ITA travelers are reminded that a travel voucher must be completed and sent to the National Business Center (NBC) after a trip that involves a travel gift.  A travel voucher must be completed for all in-kind travel gifts, even if the trip involves no expense to the government.  For those travelers located overseas where NBC does not process your travel voucher, you must still send to NBC a copy of the approved travel voucher that involves a travel gift.  If you have questions, please call Sharon Russell at (202)482-3267.

FY 2006 Budget

ITA leadership recently conducted a comprehensive mid-year financial and performance review of each program and found that planned program accomplishment is on schedule and all financial indicators show that this year will require continued fiscal constraint as we approach year-end.  If you have questions, please contact your Budget Analyst or Doug Allis at (202)482-9151.

FY 2008 Budget

ITA submitted it's initial FY 2008 budget proposal to the Secretary on May 16th. Our proposal will be reviewed by the Secretary's staff and we will get the Department's responses during the summer. After the Secretary decides on the level of funding for ITA then the budget will be recast for review by the Office of Management and Budget.  If you have questions, please contact your Budget Analyst or Doug Allis at (202)482-9151.

Part-Time Employment
                                       
Are you thinking about changing to a part-time work schedule?  If so, there are several issues you should consider.  Part-time employees under permanent appointments are eligible, on a prorated basis, for the same benefits as full-time employees: leave, holidays retirement, and health and life insurance coverage. The following provides examples of eligibility, coverage, and limitations: Leave Accrual - Annual Leave: If you have less than three years of service, you will earn 1 hour of annual leave for each 20 hours in a pay status. If you have 3 but less than 15 years of service, you will earn 1 hour of annual leave for each 13 hours in a pay status. If you have 15 years or more of service, you will earn 1 hour for each 10 hours in a pay status.
Sick Leave:  You will earn 1 hour of sick leave for each 20 hours in a pay status.  Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program - You will be eligible for the same coverage as when you were a full time employee however, the cost to you as a part-time employee is greater since the government contribution to FEHB premiums is prorated according to the number of hours in your tour of duty during the pay period (e.g., 64 hours.)  If you move, without a break in service of after a separation of 3 days or less, to a part-time position, you may change to another option or plan.  This change MUST be made within 60 days from the effective date of the Change in Work Schedule personnel action.  To learn more about the impact of Part-Time employment on holidays, retirement, life insurance and qualification determinations, go to the OPM website at http://www.opm.gov/Employment_and_Benefits/

WorkLife/OfficialDocuments/handbooksguides/

PT_Employ_JobSharing/index.asp

and click on Benefits for Part-Time Permanent Employees.  At the same website, if you click on Additional Personnel Policies, there is also information on the effect of Part-Time employment on pay, reduction-in-force, adverse and performance-based actions,  service credit and personnel ceilings.  If you have any additional questions, please contact Dottie Bowling at (202)482-3504 or Vanessa Lewis at (202)482-8327.

Procurement Corner

Question: How do I dispute a transaction on a purchase card statement?

Answer: Cardholder may dispute a transaction on their government purchase card statement in Citibank Citidirect system by logging on to http://www.cards.citidirect.com (If the cardholder has never been in Citidirect before or it has been several months since they last visited the website, please contact Citibank Help Desk at 1-800-790-7206, option 2, for Username and Password instructions).

1. On Citidirect Home Page select Inbox and Current Status.

2. Place cursor over the card number for the month of the statement desired.

3. Select the correct radio button beside the post date of the transaction to be disputed.

4. Click the Dispute button.

5. Information regarding the transaction appears.

6. Select the most appropriate reason for dispute.

7. Select Submit Dispute.

8. Print and sign the Dispute form.

9. Send the signed disputed form to Citibank within 30 days from Citidirect submission or the dispute will be disregarded.

10. To track a disputed transaction, the cardholder may select Inquiry and Dispute Log on the Home Page.  If you have questions contact Robin Carpenter at (202)482-4989 or via email Robin.Carpenter@mail.doc.gov .

Where Do I Find….. The Progress of ITA's Appropriations

The progress of ITA's appropriations can be followed on the Library of Congress - Thomas web site - a link is provided below. ITA progress is listed under the Science/State/Justice/Commerce subcommittee in the House and the Commerce/Justice/Science subcommittee in the Senate. For your convenience both are listed together on the web site. The Thomas web site address is: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app07.html For additional information, please contact Doug Allis at (202)482-9151.