[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 211 (Wednesday, November 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55583-55584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27090]



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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[GSA Bulletin FTR 17]

Federal Travel Regulation; Promoting, Encouraging, and Facilitating 
the Use of Frequent Traveler Programs and Benefits

AGENCY: Federal Supply Service, GSA.
ACTION: Notice of bulletin.

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SUMMARY: The attached bulletin informs agencies of methods available 
for use in complying with the requirement of Sec.  6008 of Pub. L. 103-
355, Oct. 13, 1994, to promote, encourage, and facilitate Federal 
employee use while on official travel of airline, hotel, and car rental 
vendor frequent traveler programs for the purpose of maximizing cost 
savings.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This bulletin is effective November 1, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane E. Groat, General Services 
Administration, Transportation Management Division (FBX), Washington, 
DC 20406, telephone 703-305-5745.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 6008 of the Federal Acquisition 
Streamlining Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-355, Oct. 13, 1994) requires the 
Administrator of General Services to issue guidelines to ensure that 
agencies promote, encourage, and facilitate Federal employee use when 
on official travel of frequent traveler programs offered by airlines, 
hotels, and car rental vendors for the purpose of realizing to the 
maximum extent practicable cost savings for official travel.
    The law further stipulates that any awards accrued through official 
travel and granted under a frequent traveler program shall be used only 
for official travel. The General Services Administration (GSA) must 
report to the Congress by October 13, 1995, on efforts to promote the 
use of frequent traveler programs by Federal employees.
    GSA has identified an incentive awards program as well as the 
frequent traveler benefits tracking services described in the attached 
bulletin to assist agencies in complying with the requirements of Sec.  
6008.

    Dated: October 24, 1995.

Sean Allan,
Acting Assistant Commissioner, Office of Transportation and Property 
Management.

Attachment

ATTACHMENT
[GSA Bulletin FTR 17]
    October 24, 1995

    To: Heads of Federal agencies

    Subject: Promoting, encouraging, and facilitating the use of 
frequent traveler programs and benefits

    1. Purpose. This bulletin informs agencies of methods available for 
use in complying with the requirement of Sec.  6008 of Pub. L. 103-355, 
Oct. 13, 1994, to promote, encourage, and facilitate Federal employee 
use of airline, hotel, and car rental vendor frequent traveler programs 
for the purpose of maximizing cost savings while on official travel.

    2. Background. Section 6008 of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining 
Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-355, Oct. 13, 1994) (the Act) requires the 
Administrator of General Services to issue guidelines to ensure that 
agencies promote, encourage, and facilitate Federal employee use of 
frequent traveler programs offered by airlines, hotels, and car rental 
vendors for the purpose of realizing to the maximum extent practicable 
cost savings for official travel. Section 6008 further requires that 
``[a]ny awards granted under such a frequent traveler program accrued 
through official travel shall be used only for official travel.''

    a. In November 1989, the General Services Administration (GSA) 
issued Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) Amendment 3 (54 FR 47523, Nov. 
15, 1989) instructing agencies to avail themselves of cost savings 
opportunities by encouraging employees to participate in frequent 
traveler programs offered by airlines, hotels, and car rental vendors. 
Amendment 3 authorized agencies to reimburse employees for the cost of 
entering a frequent traveler program when the program is expected to 
result in savings to the Government. Finally, Amendment 3 specified 
that frequent traveler benefits earned in connection with official 
travel must be used only for official travel. The provisions of 
Amendment 3 currently are contained in FTR Sec.  301-1.103(f).
    b. GSA is issuing the guidelines contained in this bulletin to 
inform agencies of authority to establish incentive award programs to 
assist agencies in promoting, and encouraging employee participation 
in, frequent traveler programs. The guidelines also apprise agencies of 
commercially available frequent traveler benefit management and 
tracking services that are designed to help facilitate use of frequent 
traveler programs to produce cost savings.
    3. Cash incentive programs. The Government Employees Incentive 
Awards Act of September 1, 1954 (5 U.S.C. 4501-4507), authorizes an 
agency to pay a cash award to an employee who by his/her personal 
effort contributes to the efficiency or economy of Government 
operations. The Office of Personnel Management has implemented the 
regulations and instructions under which agency awards programs are 
carried out (5 CFR part 451).

    Note: In keeping with the spirit of re-engineering travel, 
agencies are encouraged to develop and implement an incentive awards 
program as a means of rewarding Federal employees who through their 
own initiative save the agency money while on official travel. As an 
example, GSA has developed an internal Travel Savings Program to 
award GSA employees who take the initiative to accrue travel 
savings. GSA's program, where the awards are based on participation 
and paid at the end of the fiscal year, is available as a guide.

    4. Frequent traveler software and services. Frequent traveler 
management software and services, which show the impact of frequent 
traveler benefits 

[[Page 55584]]
earned in connection with official travel, are commercially available 
on the open market. The software and services include a variety of 
recommended management options to save time, money, and staffing. The 
software and services also make recommendations for policy development, 
program enrollment, program administration, and earned award 
processing.
    5. Expiration date. This bulletin expires on December 31, 1996.
    6. For further information contact. Jane E. Groat, General Services 
Administration, Transportation Management Division (FBX), Washington, 
DC 20406, telephone 703-305-5745.
[FR Doc. 95-27090 Filed 10-31-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-24-F