Best Practice: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has significantly reduced its convenience check spend and transaction volume in Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. At the start of FY10 VA was spending approximately $1.6 million and issuing - 4,000 convenience checks per month. As of July, total monthly spending has dropped to $575,000 and transaction volume to 1,800. Convenience check account holders now receive specific training on the revised purchase card program rules and authorized convenience check usage. As a result, VA has achieved a 64% reduction in convenience check usage and transaction volume agency-wide, as of July 2010.

Green Purchasing

There are several environmentally friendly best practices you as a cardholder or a program coordinator can implement to reduce your carbon footprint. These best practices include:

Eliminating the use of paper by signing up for online or paperless statements and payments
Reduce the need to copy and print by taking advantage of online reporting. If you do need to print, use recycled paper and ink cartridges.
Reduce the use of convenience checks.
Request a GSA SmartPay charge card that is made from recycled or environmentally friendly materials.
When shopping, use your GSA SmartPay charge card to purchase environmentally friendly or recycled products. Use the GSA Advantage! Environmental Aisle to procure green products and services to maximum extent practicable.
Complete green purchasing training.

The GSA SmartPay® program provides charge cards to agencies/departments throughout the U.S. government, as well as tribal governments, through master contracts that are negotiated with major national banks.

SmartPay® Charge Cards are for Official U.S. Government usage only.

T: 703.605.2808 | Email Support: gsa_smartpay@gsa.gov
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