• Reducing Risk

• Elimination of the Paper Travel Order CD-29

• FY 2012 Appropriation for ITA

• New Hospitality Request Approval Process

• Money Saving Tips for ITA Employees

• Help ITA Save Money – Use Your Desk Phone to Place Conference Calls

• ITA Comings and Goings

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Reducing Risk

The International Trade Administration (ITA) Security Team is committed to reducing the risk to ITA employees, visitors, contractors, guests, information and assets.  There are several risk reduction programs administered by the ITA Security Team that include:

·     Personnel Security

·     Information Security

·     Communications Security

·     Physical Security

·     Continuity Program

·     Risk Assessments

·     Occupant Emergency Program

These program and implementation requirements are identified in the Department’s Manual of Security Policies and Procedures, located at: http://home.commerce.gov/osy/SecurityManual/Security%20Manual%20Chapters/

Security%20Manual.pdf.

If your unit would like a briefing on these programs, please do not hesitate to contact the Security Team for any program assistance or guidance or any other security related questions, comments or concerns. We can be reached at:  scott.ellis@trade.gov 202-482-1205 or Keisha Risby at Keisha.risby@trade.gov 202-482-6078.

As a reminder:

With the busy holiday season approaching, do not forget about safety and security while shopping.  A few important tips:

·     Lock valuables out of sight in the trunk of your vehicle.

·     Ensure your vehicle is well maintained.

·     Lock your vehicle while getting gas.

·     Only park in well lit areas.

·     Carry only the cash that you need.

·     Credit card “skimming” is becoming a multi-million dollar crime.  Check your bill to ensure there are only charges that you made.  Contact your bank immediately if you suspect fraudulent charges.

Elimination of the Paper Travel Order CD-29

Now that ITA has implemented FedTraveler as the automated travel system at headquarters and for the US&FCS domestic field, the time is coming to go paperless for travel.  Effective Tuesday, January 3, 2012, the CD-29, Travel Order, will cease to be available for use by ITA travelers and preparers and only FedTraveler Authorizations will be accepted after that date.  The exceptions to the mandatory use of the FedTraveler Authorizations are as follows:

1.  The Under Secretary's Travel

2.  Secretarial Staff Travel

·     3.  The preparation of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) travel documents, by US&FCS; and

·     4.  Travelers who anticipate complicated travel situations (e.g., travel to numerous destinations within a foreign country or between numerous countries on one trip, utilizing foreign flag carriers).  In this type of situation, travelers will need to obtain a verbal approval from Sharon Russell or Curtis Oja in the Office of Management and Operations to utilize the CD-29, Travel Order.  If a CD-29 is used, justification for it's usage must be included on the concurrence record.   Ms. Russell can be reached at ext. 23267 or via email at Sharon.Russell@trade.gov and Mr. Oja can be reached at ext. 26123 or via email at Curtis.Oja@trade.gov.  

If you have questions related to using the FedTraveler system, please use the FedTraveler on-line tutorial at https://www.fedtraveler.com/cgi-bin/FedTraveler%20Tutorial/page27140.html.  If you have questions about specific ITA travel processes related to FedTraveler (e.g., upgrading flights, using foreign flag carriers, submitting authorizations, completing and submitting expense reports, etc.), please go to http://itacentral/ita/administration/omo/Pages/FedTraveler.aspx and click on the Standard Operating Procedures link. 

A blog will be established on the FedTraveler page in the near future so that travelers can ask questions and get answers.  The blog will be searchable so that you can check to see if someone has already covered your issue.  Your business unit travel contacts have also been trained as System Administrators for FedTraveler and can assist you with navigating the system.  Here’s a listing of the business unit System Administrators with their contact information:

FY 2012 Appropriation for ITA

On November 18, 2011 the President signed H.R. 2112, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, which provides full year appropriated funding for the International Trade Administration (ITA) at $465 million for FY 2012.  You can access ITA’s portion of the appropriation on page 40 at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr2112enr/pdf/BILLS-112hr2112enr.pdf

The amounts provided in the newly approved budget are:

§  $$48,854,000  for Manufacturing and Services;

§  $$42,623,000  for Market Access and Compliance;

§  $$67,358,000  for the Import Administration;

§  $$269,804,000 for the Foreign Commercial Service; and

§  $$26,922,000 for Executive Direction and Administration.

Program Impact of ITA’s FY 2012 Approved Budget

In addition to funding the ongoing operations of the International Trade Administration, there are numerous action items included in this budget:

• Both the House and Senate requested reports on issues, such as; fee collections, human rights training, Manufacturing in America, travel to China and many others;
• Official overseas representation funds were reduced from the traditional amount of $327,000 to $294,300; and
• There were no across the board cuts in the budget or earmarked funds for outside programs.

What Happens Next in the Budget Process?

The ITA Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will task out the numerous reports specified by the Congress. The net amounts available to each program will be apportioned (a process involving OMB and Commerce) and made available to each Assistant Secretary, the CFO/Director of Administration and the CIO within the next 20 days.  If you have any questions contact Doug Allis at 202-482-9151 or via email Doug.Allis@trade.gov .

New Hospitality Request Approval Process

ITA/OFM has streamlined the approval process for ITA Hospitality funding requests.  The new process includes a paperless flow through the approval process, thereby eliminating the Hospitality approval package being hand-carried from office to office.  Below is a brief description of how the process works.

The Hospitality request package is sent from the initiating office to the new Hospitality email address Hospitality@trade.gov (via “pdf” file).  The package will no longer be hand carried from the Program Office to the Deputy Under Secretary’s Office.   ITA/Accounting will receive the email, complete a review, forward the package to the appropriate office, and monitor the package throughout the approval process.  After the package is approved, ITA/Accounting will return the approved package to the initiating office by email for processing and expenditure. 

Further information on the new process and a training schedule will be communicated to Resource Coordinators and posted on ITA Central.  Things to remember when requesting Hospitality Funds:

• Requests for authorization of official entertainment expenditures, regardless of dollar amount, should be submitted in electronic form on Form CD-464, "Request for Authorization by Primary Operating Unit for Official Entertainment or Representation".  The Hospitality package includes:

o   Form CD-464

o   The Request’s Financial Plan

o   Form ITA-233 “Concurrence Record”

      Requests for the expenditure of funds of $2,500 or less require the approval of the ITA Chief Financial Officer and Director of Administration (CFO/DOA)

      Requests for the expenditure of funds of more than $2,500 require review by the ITA CFO/DOA and approval by the Department CFO and Assistant Secretary for Administration (CFO/ASA).

• Department guidelines are in DAO 203-10 “Official Entertainment and Representation Authorizations”.

If you have any questions contact Doug Allis at 202-482-9151 or via email Doug.Allis@trade.gov . 

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"Other News"

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ITA Comings and Goings

Arrivals – WELCOME

OCIO: Bong Lee; Amanda Wallace

Departures

OUS: Courtney Weisman; IA: Sheila Forbes; Debra Moore; Kelly Parkhill; Laurie Parkhill; MAC: Mohammed Al-Adeeb; Brenda Fisher; Elizabeth Hall; Pamela Woods; MAS: Charles Bell; Leonard Heimowitz; James McElroy; Jerome Morse;

FCS: Paul Matsiras; Loretta Cole; Suresh Dhir; Edward Kimmel; Ava Laliberte; Gladys Sanders; Mildred Ward