GSA #10534

August 31, 2008
Contact: Michael Collins, (202) 208-4220
michael.collins@gsa.gov

WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) on Sunday took emergency steps to facilitate travel, lodging and fuel purchases in states threatened by Hurricane Gustav.

GSA’s actions followed President Bush’s State of Emergency declarations for Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. The President also ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts beginning on August 30.

GSA signed Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) Bulletin 08-10, which waives Section 301-70.200(f) of the FTR requiring an agency determination in each individual case that reimbursement under the actual expense method is appropriate.

GSA also signed Federal Management Regulation Bulletin B-20, which provides a deviation for executive agencies to purchase premium fuel for Government owned and leased vehicles when lower grade fuels are not available.

GSA took these actions with the expectation that finding lodging facilities and/or adequate meals may be difficult, according to Kevin Messner, Associate Administrator, Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Governmentwide Policy.

The GSA bulletins will be published on the agency’s website (www.gsa.gov), and in the Federal Register as soon as possible.

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GSA provides a centralized delivery system of products and services to the federal government, leveraging its enormous buying power to get the best value for taxpayers.
• Founded in 1949, GSA manages more than one-fourth of the government’s total procurement dollars and influences the management of $500 billion in federal assets, including 8,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 208,000 vehicles.
• GSA helps preserve our past and define our future, as a steward of more than 425 historic properties, and as manager of USA.gov, the official portal to federal government information and services.
• GSA’s mission to provide superior workplaces, expert technology solutions, acquisition services, purchasing and E-Gov travel solutions and management policies, at best value, allows federal agencies to focus on their core missions.

Did You Know? In December 1995, GSA created its Office of Governmentwide Policy to consolidate its policy functions into a single organization.