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Travel & Relocation

Relocation Guide

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General Information

General Information

This quick reference guide is intended to provide general entitlement and allowances that may be authorized to current federal employees, new hires/appointees and new hires under Demonstration Project authority that are authorized a transfer of station by the Federal government, when relocation is to a new duty station within the 48 continental United States (CONUS).

Be advised, that each situation is unique and individuals should contact their respective travel office for advice on specific situations.

WARNING! Do Not incur relocation costs until you have signed the Research, Education and Economics (REE) Form 183, Service Agreement the Agriculture Research Service (ARS) form 330, Travel Authorization Data and receive an approved AD-202, Travel Authorization/Advance for Relocation Travel.

Policy

Relocation allowances will not be authorized if the new official station is less than 50 miles from your old official station, and only when the one-way commuting distance from the old residence to the new official station, is at least 25 miles greater than from the old residence to the old official station.

Effective Date

Entitlements and allowances for relocation are determined by the regulatory provisions that are in effect at the time you report for duty at your new official station.

All individuals authorized a transfer of station or relocation to first post of duty must sign a service agreement to remain in the service of the Government for 12 months following the effective date of transfer. If violated the individual may be liable for any funds expended by the Federal Government.

All individuals authorized relocation have two ( 2) years from the actual reporting date to the new station to complete all allowable expenditures including the settlement of the sale and purchase of residence transactions. Under unusual circumstances another year not to exceed a maximum of four (4) years may be granted.

Note: Leave taken during travel may affect entitlement to per diem. Per Diem will not be paid unless the travel period to the new duty station is 12 hours or more.

Current Federal employees once authorized a transfer of station are entitled to all allowances in this pamphlet except temporary quarters and house hunting. The Agency, at its discretion and after determination, may authorize house hunting and temporary quarters and may limit the amount of time allowed for either or both.

New hires/appointees authorized relocation expenses to the first post of duty will be limited to specific entitlements: En route travel expenses for employee only; transportation expenses of employee and immediate family; mileage if privately owned vehicle is used for travel; transportation and temporary storage of household goods, or transportation of a mobile home in lieu of moving and storing household goods and possible shipment of one privately owned vehicle.

Under the Demonstration Project authority, ARS has discretionary authority to limit or expand travel and transportation allowances for new hires/appointees to their first post of duty. Any individual hired under the Demonstration Project authority must contact the hiring official or travel office for specifics.

Administrative Leave of up to 80 hours may be allowed for house hunting and pre/post-moving. Employees who are making a change of official station in the interest of the Government may be excused a total not to exceed 80 hours for any official move. Time spent on a house hunting trip is part of the 80 allowable hours. En route travel time is regular time worked and not included in the 80 hours. This leave is used for starting or stopping electrical/gas, applying for driver’s licenses, etc., not for packing and unpacking.

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If you have any questions or concerns related to allowances or entitlement as it relates to your transfer of station you should contact the appropriate office listed below.

ARS Area Contacts

Area

Area Budget and Fiscal Officer Contact

Area Transportation Assistant Contact

Beltsville Area (BA)

301- 504-5542

301-504-6106

North Atlantic Area (NAA)

215-233-6550

215-233-6689

MidWest Area (MWA)

309-681-6630

309-681-6628

Pacific West Area (PWA)

510-559-6007

510-559-6010

Northern Plains Area (NPA)

970-492-7010

970-492-7026

Southern Plains Area (SPA)

979-260-9495

979-260-9493

Mid South Area (MSA)

601-686--5348

601-686-5384

South Atlantic Area (SAA)

706-546-3192

706-546-3492

 

ARS Program Staff Contacts

Location

Contact

National Agricultural Library (NAL), ARS Administrative Support Staff

AO 301-504-7693/5570

 

REE Agency Contacts

Agency

Contact Number

Chief, Travel & Relocation Services Branch., ARS

301-504-1260

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

(ARS Travel Office)

202-720-8505

National Agricultural Statistics Service

202-720-1963/4913

Economic Research Service

202-694-5105

 

Last Updated 10/02/2007