[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 90 (Friday, May 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25034-25035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11529]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Maximum Per Diem Rates for Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, and 
Virginia

AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy, General Services 
Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Notice of Per Diem Bulletin 03-1, revised continental United 
States (CONUS) per diem rates.

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SUMMARY: To improve the ability of the per diem rates to meet the 
lodging demands of Federal travelers to high cost travel locations, the 
General Services Administration (GSA) has integrated the contracting 
mechanism of the new Federal Premier Lodging Program (FPLP) into the 
per diem rate-setting process. An analysis of FPLP contracting actions 
and the lodging rate survey data reveals that the maximum per diem rate 
should be adjusted to provide for the reimbursement of Federal 
employees' lodging expenses covered by the per diem. This notice 
announces the new per diem rates for Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, 
and Virginia.

DATES: This notice is effective May 27, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For clarification of content, contact 
Joddy P. Garner, Office of Governmentwide Policy, Travel Management 
Policy, at (202) 501-4857. Please cite Notice of Per Diem Bulletin 03-
1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    In the past, properties in high cost travel areas have been under 
no obligation to provide lodging to Federal travelers at the prescribed 
per diem rate. Thus, GSA established the FPLP to contract directly with 
properties in high cost travel markets to make available a set number 
of rooms to Federal travelers at contract rates. FPLP contract results 
along with the lodging survey data are integrated together to determine 
reasonable per diem rates that more accurately reflect lodging costs in 
these areas. In addition, the FPLP will enhance the Government's 
ability to better meet its overall room night demand, and allow 
travelers to find lodging close to where they need to conduct business. 
After an analysis of this additional data, the maximum lodging amounts 
published in the Federal Register at 67 FR 56160, August 30, 2002 and 
amended at 67 FR 69634, November 18, 2002, are being changed in the 
following locations:

State of Kentucky

    [sbull] Cities of Hebron/Florence/Covington, including Boone and 
Kenton Counties

State of North Carolina

    [sbull] City of Chapel Hill, including Orange County.
    [sbull] City of Raleigh, including Wake County.
    [sbull] Cities of Research Triangle Park/Durham, including Durham 
County.

State of Ohio

    [sbull] City of Cincinnati, including Hamilton and Warren Counties.

State of Virginia

    [sbull] City of Colonial Heights (independent city).
    [sbull] City of Hopewell (independent city).
    [sbull] City of Petersburg (independent city).
    [sbull] Prince George County.
    [sbull] City of Richmond (independent city, but includes 
Chesterfield and Henrico Counties, also Defense Supply Center).

B. Change in Standard Procedure

    Since per diem rates frequently change, effective April 28, 2003 
(see 68 FR 22314, April 28, 2003), the Office of Governmentwide Policy 
(OGP), GSA, will issue/publish the CONUS per diem

[[Page 25035]]

rates, formerly published in appendix A to 41 CFR chapter 301, solely 
on the Internet at http://www.gsa.gov/perdiem. This new process will 
ensure more timely increases or decreases in per diem rates established 
by GSA for Federal employees on official travel within CONUS. This 
notice advises agencies of revisions in per diem rates prescribed by 
OGP for CONUS. Notices published periodically in the Federal Register, 
such as this one, now constitute the only notification of revisions in 
CONUS per diem rates to agencies.

    Dated: May 2, 2003.
G. Martin Wagner,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-11529 Filed 5-8-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-14-P