GSA Announces 2006 Travel and Relocation Innovation Award Winners

DHS and the Department of Interior Recognized

June 30, 2006

                                                          
GSA #10249
Contact: Viki Reath (202) 501-1231
viki.reath@gsa.gov                      

Washington, DC -The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection Service (CBP) received GSA’s first biennial 2006 Travel and Relocation Innovation Award, and the Department of Interior’s National Park Service Midwest Region (DOI) was awarded an honorable mention.

“The award program delivers on GSA’s mission to be, not only the federal government's premier acquisition provider, but also the leader in setting and supporting governmentwide policy that increases government effectiveness and efficiency, while adding value to taxpayer dollars," said GSA Administrator Lurita Doan. "GSA's efforts also are consistent with the commitments in the President’s Management Agenda to expand the use of electronic government as one means to meet administration goals." 

GSA established this award to promote improvements in travel and relocation management in the federal government by recognizing and publicizing innovative achievements that benefit the entire federal community.

Both awards were announced and presented yesterday in Los Angeles California at GSA’s National Travel Forum.

CBP’s work to protect US borders requires constant relocation of the more than 15,000 border patrol agents.  To address its need and to reduce costs, CBP developed the innovative Volunteer Relocation Program, approved under a GSA Federal Travel Regulation Pilot Test Program. Under the Volunteer Relocation Program, border patrol agents who volunteer to relocate receive a lump sum reimbursement for relocation expenses. The lump sum is less than the typical relocation reimbursement paid to those whose relocations are mandatory.

DOI was recognized for creating a centralized, online travel and relocation program, which provided customers with immediate access to need-to-know information, thus reducing overall relocation man-hours and management costs.

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GSA is a centralized, federal procurement, property management, policy development and information provision agency, created by Congress to improve government efficiency and help federal agencies better serve the public. In this role, GSA acquires products and services on behalf of federal agencies; plays a key role in developing and implementing governmentwide policies; provides services and solutions for the office operations of more than one million federal workers; and encourages a citizen-centric relationship with government by providing a single "point of entry" to the information and services citizens need in a timeframe they can appreciate.  This allows citizens to receive accurate, timely and consistent answers and information, and helps federal agencies better respond to citizen inquiries.