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The Office of Travel Management serves as the Department's point of contact for the following services:

Travel Management Center (TMC)

The Office of the Chief Financial Officer oversees the Travel Management Center (TMC).

The Reservation Center phone number is 1-888-205-2369 (same number for emergency after-hours).

In addition, travel arrangements can be made via e:mail at DOEDC@adtrav.com. A transaction fee is charged for each ticket issued.

For questions about the Travel Management Center, email: travelsystemsupport@hq.doe.gov.
 

Official Travel, Domestic and Foreign

Official travel is any travel by a federal or contract employee who is conducting U.S. government business for authorized and official purposes. DOE federal travelers approved to travel for official purposes must make travel reservations through the Department of Energy E-Gov Travel Service 2 (eTS2).

ADTRAV Travel Management is one of the Department of Energy’s Travel Management Centers, providing a full range of travel agent services including, but not limited to, arranging and booking official travel for individuals and groups; making travel related reservations; providing customer service; reconciling central billed accounts; and providing travel related reports and information to management.  

All Federal employees' travel for DOE requires prior travel authorization and approval in the eTS 2 at:
https://in-gotravel.doe.gov

Official Foreign Travel

Official foreign travel is defined as approved travel (whether wholly or partly on official business) from the United States (including Alaska, Hawaii, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories and possessions of the United States) to a foreign country and return or travel between foreign countries by persons, including foreign nationals, or persons whose salaries or travel expenses or both will ultimately be funded in whole or in part by DOE/NNSA from its appropriations.  Official foreign travel may also include travel funded by non-DOE or non-NNSA sources for which the traveler represents the Department or NNSA or conducts business on behalf of the U.S. Government.

The Department of State offers a free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to U.S. citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country.  Registration allows you to record information about your upcoming trip abroad that the Department of State can use to assist you in case of an emergency.  The Department of State will also provide Travel Alerts and Warnings through STEP.  To enroll please go to:
https://step.state.gov/STEP/Pages/Common/Citizenship.aspx

Required - High Threat Security Overseas Seminar (HTSOS) Training

The Department of State requires all Federal travelers traveling to a foreign destination to take the High Threat Security Overseas Seminar (HTSOS).  This training may be accessed via:

  • DOE’s Learning Nucleus for Federal employees at https://learningnucleus.energy.gov/login/index.php, then select Course Catalog and search for High Threat Security Overseas Seminar;
  • DOE's Employee Self Service portal at https://ess.doe.gov, select Training, Access Training, Learning Nucleus, Connect to Learning Nucleus, then in the Learning Nucleus select Course Catalog and search for High Threat Security Overseas Seminar.

Foreign Travel Management System (FTMS)

The Foreign Travel Management System (FTMS) is a DOE-wide centralized system for recording, tracking, and securing approvals of all foreign travel conducted by DOE Federal employees and contractors. In order for DOE Federal employees and contractors to conduct international travel, the trip request must be entered and approved in FTMS.  Prior to final approval within FTMS, country clearance must be obtained from the respective country(ies) to be visited.  The system is located at:  https://ftms.doe.gov/  FTMS should be available from most, if not all, DOE sites (you need to be attached to a DOE network to access it).

Processing Foreign Travel at DOE includes the following requirements:

  1. Approved Travel Authorization in the electronic Travel System 2 (eTS2) (Federal employees only)
  2. A completed trip request in FTMS
  3. Country Clearance Approval
  4. Valid Official or Diplomatic Passport
  5. Appropriate and valid Visa(s)
  6. Review of required immunizations
  7. Letter of Invitation (LOI) - when required

Official Travel Regulations and Guidelines

Travel Training Videos

Travel Training Videos are being developed to address reoccurring issues found on DOE-HQ travel vouchers, and to educate DOE travelers and approving officials on travel requirements.

The videos are for DOE employees only, and are available though Powerpedia the Department's internal collaboration system.  Please follow this link to the Office of Travel Management's page with the links to the videos and other travel related resources.  The Powerpedia is accessible to all DOE employees while logged onto a DOE network.

This is a list of videos available and being developed.  Please use the Powerpedia to access them.

 

Travel Training Videos
Name of VideoDescriptionKey Topics

Video 1: Basic Reminders of Travel Approving Official’s role when Approving Travel Vouchers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Become familiar with the DOE’s Travel Approving Official’s role in approving Travel Vouchers and know what to verify before approving a Travel Voucher.

 

 

 

 

 

Look for items out of compliance and ensure a proper justification is provided;

Ensure that the Traveler has selected the correct method (CASH/IBA/CBA) of reimbursement on travel voucher.

Ensure proper receipts are attached;

Know where to find the Federal Travel Regulation and who to contact for further guidance

Video 2: Why it is important to select the correct method of reimbursement on a Travel Voucher (In Production)

  

Video 3: What cost comparisons are required when a traveler plans to deviate by combining personal air travel with official air travel at the end of Temporary Duty (In Production)

  

Video 4: What to do when methods of reimbursement on a Travel Authorization for payment of airfare/hotel/rental car (and other expenses) differs from that specified on a Travel Voucher (In Production)

  

U.S. Passports and Visa Services (Official and Diplomatic)

The Office of Travel Management (MA-45) provides a variety of services, which facilitate DOE’s international travel for Official or Diplomatic purposes.  The Department of Energy has an authorized Passport unit, and as such, administers Official and Diplomatic Passport and Visa applications and forward to the Department of State for approval. 

The Passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer.  A valid U.S. Passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries.  All persons, whether U.S. Citizens or foreign nationals, must present a valid passport or alternate approved travel document to enter or depart from the United States by air. Additional information is available at the following websites:

Official and Diplomatic Passports are the property of the U.S. Government and are authorized for Official Use Only.  An Official Passport is issued to an official or employee of the U.S. Government proceeding abroad in the discharge of official duties.  Where appropriate, dependents of such persons may be issued Official passports (22 Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 1 51.3 (c)(1)).  A Diplomatic Passport is issued to a Foreign Service Officer, a person in the diplomatic service or to a person having diplomatic status either because of the nature of his or her foreign mission or by reason of the office he or she holds.  Where appropriate, dependents of such persons may be issued Diplomatic passports (22 Code of Federal Regulations Chapter 1 51.3 (d)).

U.S. Passport Applications must be completed online via the Department of State's website at: https://www.travel.state.gov.  The completed form must be printed and submitted with an original signature, to the Office of Travel Management (MA-45) in room GE-180, Forrestal Headquarters.  Typically, advance timing of 3-4 weeks is needed for DOE to process and obtain a passport from the Department of State.  The requirements for an Official passport include:

  • the passport application,
  • two photos,
  • Proof of birth (passport, expired passport, or birth certificate),
  • Memo on the agency letterhead to the Director, Office of Travel Management, which provides information about the traveler’s grade, title, pending trip, and purpose of travel.

The Visa is a stamp placed in the passport, issued by the foreign consular officials at the Embassy of the foreign country which indicates that country’s approval of your visit and granting permission for you to enter that country for a specific time duration. Most countries require that a passport be valid for at least six months beyond the dates of travel before a visa can be issued.

Visa requirements for official travel differ from the visa requirements for personal and private industry travel.  Processing times for visas are dictated by the various embassies.  When planning official travel, employees are reminded to allow sufficient time for the passport and/or visa application(s) to be processed and returned to DOE. 

Important Notes:

  • Original signatures are required for each Visa Application.
  • Foreign embassies will not issue a visa in Official or Diplomatic Passports without a letter from the Department of State.
  • For purposes of official travel for DOE all officials are required to use a Diplomatic or Official  passport for a number of reasons:
  1. A Diplomatic or Official visa cannot be stamped into a tourist passport.
  2. A visa will not be granted for entry into a foreign country when the reason for travel to that country is stated as official business and the tourist passport is presented.
  3. Some countries will deny entry at the border to individuals entering the country on official government business when they arrive with only a tourist passport and not the official passport.  Further problems may also occur upon departure from that country.
  4. Violation of Sovereignty.  Use of the tourist passport when traveling in an official capacity misrepresents the true purpose for which the traveler has entered the country.  This can have serious and adverse affects on the U.S. reciprocal relations with foreign countries.
  5. Security concerns. Should there be a problem which in the host country, the official passport provides quicker access to officials of the host country government and greater protection.

Non-Refundable Airfare Guidance

  • Travelers need to be 99.9% certain of itinerary.
  • The closer to departure date, the higher the price of a non-refundable ticket.
  • Non-refundable airfares should be ticketed within 24 hours of booking; however, this does not guarantee the airfare will be available.  Carrier tariff’s change frequently throughout a 24-hour period and are never guaranteed until ticketed.
  • All non-refundable tickets should be purchased on the CBA.

PROGRAM OFFICE ACCOUNTABILITY
The employee and approving official are to be fully aware of all of the terms and conditions of the ticket.

The program office and approving official are responsible for ensuring that the ticket is reused for official business on a future trip and is not used by the employee for personal use in the unanticipated event that the ticket is not used for the planned trip.

SEATS

  • Non-refundable seats are NOT upgradable.
  • Non-refundable seat maps are very limited, so seats may not be desirable by the traveler.

TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION

Travel authorization must provide a justification for use of the non-contract.

UNUSED NON-REFUNDABLE TICKET VALUES

Non-refundable is exactly that – if a traveler does not travel, or does not use all tickets, DOE will not receive a refund as such when using a contract fare.

Fully unused ticket – value of the ticket available usually 1 year from date of ticket issuance (not date of travel).  Some conditions vary.  Penalties and fees apply when fully unused ticket applied.

Outbound used, return unused – partial used tickets have NO value for future travel.

Only fully unused tickets will receive a credit, credits are not transferrable and only valid for one year from date of ticket issuance not dates of travel.

If the outbound is not taken, the return can never be used on a non-refundable ticket.  The carrier will negate the value of the ticket and show the reservation as “no-show.” 

Reservations must be cancelled or value of ticket is lost.  This applies to outbound and return segments.  If you are late for your outbound flight, the carrier will indicate traveler as a “no show.”

If a traveler leaves the Department before using the credit, cost for the unused return is lost.

For further information follow this link for the FAQs on non-refundable tickets.
 

International Insurance

The Department of Energy provides insurance for DOE employees on official overseas travel.  The Office of Travel Management (MA-45) manages the Travel & Medical Insurance accounts for the Office of the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Under Secretary of Energy.  In addition, MA-45 provides information to DOE Program Offices regarding travel insurance services. The International plan includes the following coverage:

  • Travel Insurance for International Travelers
  • International Emergency Assistance
  • 24 hour multilingual emergency medical and security assistance
  • Evacuation and repatriation programs
  • Customized global travel solutions, pre-travel advice and contingency planning

Click here to go to the Travel FAQs

MAAdm updated 12/17/2020 - New Format