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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA Program Support
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Home > Mountain Finance Branch > Tips for Better Service
Mountain Finance Branch
Tips for Better Service
Vouchering Departmental policy requires employees to submit a properly prepared and approved Travel Manager travel voucher to the designated payment office within five (5) working days after the completion of travel.

Travelers must submit receipts for:
  • Lodging
  • Car Rental
  • Airline Ticket
  • Registration fees
  • Anything over $75
Travelers must also:
  • Provide contact person and telephone number if voucher prepared by other than traveler
  • Travelers need to explain miscellaneous charges on the travel voucher
Vouchers and payment:
  • Paper copy of approved travel voucher is still required to be sent to Finance
  • Normal processing time for travel vouchers is 5 working days from receipt in FMD
  • Travelers in the NOAA Locator will receive a e-mail payment notification
Finance will provide Travel Manager training to our customers.

Call the Mountain Finance Division Help Desk for Travel Manager assistance: (303) 497-5307 or (303) 497-6195.
 
Travel Management Center (TMC)

Travel policy states that TMCs must be used for lodging and rental car reservations.

Contact ADTRAV for airline ticket, lodging and car rental reservations at 866-430-8929. Fax authorizations to 205-949-4233.

Charges:
  • $22.25 transaction fee for domestic airline ticket
  • $26.00 transaction fee for foreign airline ticket
  • $5.50 for car only.
  • $5.50 for hotel only.
  • $11.00 for car and hotel together.
  • There are no transaction fees for car rental and lodging reservations if made along with an airline reservation.
  • $15.00 for calling ADTRAV after hours (hours other than 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CT).
  • Airline tickets are being charged under a centrally billed account which will be paid by the AOD finance office in Germantown, MD.
For other locations:
Contact the SATO San Antonio Reservation Center for airline ticket, lodging and car rental reservations at 800 736-9899, fax 877 905-9646. SATO will make the airline reservation but will not issue a ticket without a travel authorization.

Charges:
  • $27.00 transaction fee for domestic airline ticket
  • $30.00 transaction fee credit for foreign airline ticket
  • There are no transaction fees for car rental and lodging reservations
  • Airline tickets are being charged under a centrally billed account which will be paid by the NOAA Finance Office in Germantown, MD.
  • Contact the NOAA Accounting Operations Division regarding unused airline ticket refunds (301) 444-2757
 
Travel Information

Links to:

The Government Travel Credit card is required ONLY if an employee travels at least 6 times a year.

Obtain government travel credit card by contacting:

  • NMFS - Levon Washington (301) 713-0155
  • NWS - Janice Evans(301) 713-0420 ext. 104
  • OFA, NESDIS, OAR & NOS - Elissa Kelsey (301) 444-2107

Types of Misconduct with the Government Travel Card which can result in reprimand to removal:

  • Failure/refusal to use card while traveling
  • Delinquency in paying outstanding balances
  • Misuse
 
Relocation
MASC Finance handles the reimbursement of travel vouchers for permanent change of station claims. MASC Finance also will contact the carrier to set up the shipment of household goods.

Items covered under a permanent change of station move:

  • House-Hunting Trip
  • Travel to New Post of Duty
  • Transportation and Temporary Storage of Household Goods
  • Non temporary Storage of Household Goods
  • Shipment of Privately Owned Vehicle
  • Transportation of Mobile Homes and Boats
  • Temporary Quarters
  • Miscellaneous Moving Allowance
  • Sale and Purchase of Residence
  • Third Party Relocation Services

No travel advances are issued. The employee must use his/her Government travel charge card.

Vouchers should be filed 5 days after arriving at the new duty station and 5 days after closing on the sale or purchase of a home. Temporary quarters vouchers should be filed no later than every 30 days.

Use the correct accounting on Government Bills of Lading documents

For more information, (1) go to the MASC Financial Management Division page and look at the permanent change of station file, (2) read the permanent change of station package that Human Resources Division sends to each relocating employee, or (3) call the MASC relocation representative, Steve Tatum, 303-497-6199.

 
Vendor Payments
Most vendor payments are subject to the Prompt Payment Act; meaning the vendor is paid 30 days after the receipt of a proper invoice.

There are instances where accelerated payment methods may be used; (a) single invoice under $2,500 (b) Small Business (as defined in FAR 19.001 48 CFT 19,001), (c) Emergency payments and (d) Fast Payment (payments without evidence that supplies have been received). Vendors shall be entitled to interest penalties if invoice payments are made after the payment due date.
Contact your servicing Finance or Acquisition Division for further guidance.

Utility bills are exempt from the Prompt Payment Act due to interstate regulatory tariffs and are paid upon receipt of the properly certified bill.

Accounts payable documents are processed in the Commerce Administrative Management Systems (CAMS).

Be sure to send a receiving report either partial or complete upon receipt of goods or services for One-Time Purchase Orders

 

 
Purchase Cards

Cardholders should complete the purchase card ordering log for each purchase card transaction.

Cardholders should submit their statement to their approving official within five (5) days after receipt.

Cardholders should verify the accuracy of the default accounting codes to ensure proper recording of "swept" purchase card transactions.

Monthly statements should be reconciled in the Commerce Purchase Card System (CPCS) by the 23rd of each month.

Cardholders should maintain their monthly statements for 6 years and 6 months.

Cardholders must use the proper accounting object class code for budget and property purposes. Use the NOAA Finance website to refer to the object class listing.

Cardholder should complete a 'Government Cardholder Dispute Form' for disputed or questioned transactions with merchants. Send the dispute form along with supporting documentation to the Commerce Bankcard Center. Employees can obtain the dispute form on the CBC website at www.casc.noaa.gov.cbc/forms.

Negligence or intentional use of the account for other than official Government business, will be considered an attempt to commit fraud against the U.S. Government and will result in immediate cancellation of the account.


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Last update 3 April 2008