Correspondence Practices

Extension, downgrade and decontrol requests for controlled correspondence submitted to the ITA Secretariat should include a detailed justification for each request.  If an extension is required because additional information is needed from a source outside ITA, the name of the individual and agency being contacted for this information should be included in the request.  All requests need to be submitted prior to the correspondence due date to the ITA Secretariat.  If you have  questions, please contact the Secretariat staff at (202)482-5101 or by e-mail at ITASEC@ita.doc.gov .

New OMB Purchase Card Limits

Effective immediately, all new purchase card applications (domestic and international) will be processed with a single limit of $500 and a monthly limit of $1,000. GSA and OMB have issued interim guidance to assist agencies with the credit worthiness requirement in the OMB Circular.  Therefore, until the Department of Commerce has implemented a formal credit check process, Agency Program Coordinators can  issue only "restricted" purchase cards.  Again, the restricted card will have a single purchase limit of $500, and a monthly limit of $1,000.  If you have questions please contact Robin Carpenter at (202)482-4989 or via email at Robin.Carpenter@mail.doc.gov .

The Office of Financial Management has provided final performance data for the 4th Quarter ITA Assessment of Performance. Overall, ITA continues to achieve most performance targets. ITA has also made progress in many of the President's Management Agenda Initiatives.  In FY2005, ITA met or exceeded eight of nine performance targets. Specifically, 12, 518 export transactions resulted from FCS involvement. In addition, FCS helped 4,888 U.S. exporters enter new markets and expanded the number of new exporters by 620. MAC concluded 123 market access cases and initiated 163 cases. IA completed 100% of the Antidumping/Countervailing duty cases on time.  ITA has also received a green rating on the status of three of five of the President's Management Initiatives. These initiatives are  Human Capital, Financial Performance and E-Government.  These results will be reported in the FY2005 Department of Commerce Performance and Accountability Report. For further information please contact Dondi Ojeda at (202)482-5204.

FY 2006 Budget

Progress toward enactment of a full year appropriation continues to be slow. We are on a continuing resolution thru November 18. Congress is still trying to work out a budget resolution with offsets for Hurricane Katrina and is debating how much of those offsets will be taken in discretionary appropriations and entitlement spending. For the moment, it appears that House leaders have decided not to take across the board domestic discretionary cuts as part of the budget resolution. However, across the board cuts are likely to be taken instead as part of final stages of an appropriations process, which is likely to result in another consolidated bill. For more information call Doug Allis at (202)482-9151.

Commitment Accounting

Reminder: After they are signed, copies of the following documents need to be sent to the Office of Financial Management (OFM) Accounting Office for the creation of the commitment:  Work Requests (CD-410), Procurement requests (CD-435), Training Requests (SF-182), Memoranda of Understanding, Printing and Binding Requests (SF-1), Copies of Travel Orders (CD-29).  Any questions should be directed to Vanessa Barksdale at (202)482-5627.

2005 Federal Employees' Health Benefit Open Season Fair

The 2005 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Open Season will be held from November 14, 2005 through December 12, 2005. Employees are invited to attend the FEHB Open Season Fair on Thursday, October 27, 2005, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Main Lobby of the Herbert C. Hoover Building.  Insurance carriers will provide presentations and discuss information on individual plans and benefits for the upcoming year in the auditorium.  A listing of insurance carriers and the time of their presentations can be found on the Department's Office of Human Resources Management web site at www.ohrm.os.doc.gov/benefits by clicking on the Benefits Events Information link. Employees are encouraged to take this opportunity to pick up valuable information in advance of the FEHB Open Season.  For additional info, contact Vanessa Lewis at (202)482-8327 or via email at Vanessa_Lewis@ita.doc.gov and Dottie Bowling (202)482-3504 or via email at Dottie_Bowling@ita.doc.gov.

Earnings and Leave Statements (ELS)

The National Finance Center (NFC) resumed mailing Earnings and Leave Statements effective Pay Period 19, payday October 13, 2005. Employees can choose to receive the ELS from the Employee Personal Page (EPP) at www.nfc.usda.gov. If you have specific questions about this, please contact Lorese Green (202)482-5232 or via email at Lorese_Green@ita.doc.gov or Annjuana Rogers at (202)482-3806 or via email at Annjuana_Rogers@ita.doc.gov.

Travelers' Corner

Question:   Is a traveler's allowance for meals reduced if a meal is provided by a common carrier or a complimentary meal is provided by the hotel/motel?

Answer:  No.  A meal provided by a common carrier or a complimentary meal provided by a hotel/motel does not effect your per diem. However, meals provided by any other source must be deducted from your m&ie.  If you have questions, please call your travel contact or Sharon Russell at (202)482-3267.

Where Do I Find.... Foreign Currency Converter

To find the value of US currency in a foreign country access the following website: http://www.oanda.com/converter/classic, click on Foreign Currency Converter.   If you have questions contact Roxanna Allen at (202)482-8363.