[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 160 (Tuesday, August 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 49778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21167]



[[Page 49778]]

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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Maximum Per Diem Rates for Colorado, New York, Texas, and Utah

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

ACTION: Notice of Per Diem Bulletin 03-3, 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 Colorado, New York, Texas, and 
Utah.

DATES: This notice is effective August 19, 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-
3.

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 amount 
published in the Federal Register at 67 FR 56160, August 30, 2002 and 
amended at 67 FR 69634, November 18, 2002, 68 FR 25034, May 9, 2003, 
and 68 FR 31706, May 28, 2003, is being changed in the following 
locations:

State of Colorado

    [sbull] City of Colorado Springs, including El Paso County.

State of New York

    [sbull] Borough of Brooklyn.

State of Texas

    [sbull] City of Austin, including Travis County.
    [sbull] City of Houston, including Harris County.

State of Utah

    [sbull] City of Salt Lake City, including Salt Lake County.

B. Change in Standard Procedure

    Since per diem rates frequently change, effective April 28, 2003 
(68 FR 22314), the Office of Governmentwide Policy (OGP), GSA, will 
issue/publish the CONUS per diem 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: August 8, 2003.
G. Martin Wagner,
Associate Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-21167 Filed 8-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-14-M