In this Issue

Features

Travelers Corner
Where Do I Find

Official Passport Security

As you know, it is critical to protect personal information from unauthorized access. ITA employees who have official passports should secure them to protect them from loss or unauthorized access. Official Passports should be stored in one of the two following ways: (1) Return to SATO (Room 2069) between trips, or (2) store the passport in a locked safe. More information on passports can be found at http://www.osecdoc.gov/oas/travel/passport.htm. If you have questions, please contact Sharon Russell at (202)482-3267.

Use of Appropriated Funds to Purchase Business Cards

The use of appropriated funds to purchase business cards is limited to those employees whose duties require them to routinely meet or have contact with individuals outside of their offices, such as members of the public or other Federal agencies. A maximum of $60 per employee is authorized for the purchase of business cards using appropriated funds. Business cards costing $60 or less should be purchased using the office purchase card, or through the Department’s printing facility, using a form SF-1. For business cards that exceed $60, the employee will be required to write a check (made out to “The International Trade Administration”) and complete a form ITA-2057, “International Trade Administration Collections Transaction Record” to reimburse the government for the amount over $60. For more detailed guidance on the purchase of business cards, you may contact Charles Jefferson in the Office of Organization and Management Support at (202)482-6078 or charles.jefferson@mail.doc.gov .

Escape Hood Training

On Tuesday, October 3rd, the ITA Safety Council will conduct two one-hour Escape Hood training sessions at 10:00 and 2:00, in Room B-841B. You must take the training to receive a hood, which you will receive at the end of the session. Sessions are also open to interns and contractors. The sessions will teach you how to correctly wear the emergency Escape Hoods, which have been certified as the best commercially available protective hoods. There is no charge for this training, but you must sign up in advance by emailing ITA’s Safety Officer, Jeff Scherr, at Jeffrey.Scherr@mail.doc.gov (each session is limited to 30 people). Limited space is available; the next session will be held in 1-2 months. If you have questions, please call Jeff Scherr at (202)482-3266.

Copier and Printer Supplies

All copiers, printers and fax machines in ITA-headquarters and the Ronald Reagan Building are serviced, supplied and maintained by Cartridge Technologies Inc. (CTI). Therefore, to ensure service in a timely manner ITA and Cartridge Technologies Inc. have scheduled supply deliveries for Tuesday and Thursday ONLY. All supply calls should be placed by 3:00 PM the day before the scheduled delivery day. You can place a service call or supply order by either calling CTI at (301) 417-7202 or emailing at SERVICES@CTIMD.COM (Please note that Xerox and Oce machines, can only be services by , Xerox Capital Services and Oce-USA Inc.) Please make sure you provide the machine location, serial number and point of contact when placing a service or supply call. If you have questions, please contact Robin Carpenter at (202) 482-4989 or via email at Robin.Carpenter@mail.doc.gov .

ITA End of Year Performance Measure Results

With the fiscal year ending this week, ITA is poised to assess its annual performance and results through several key performance measures. ITA Measure Owners will be reporting fourth quarter data to the Office of Financial Management as of October 3, 2005. Last year ITA met or exceeded the target in 88% of its performance metrics. ITA anticipates that it will likely achieve similar results for FY 2006. ITA reports to OMB and the Department on several key performance metrics on an annual basis. For FY 2006, ITA anticipates that it will meet or exceed the planned target for all but one of our critical measures, a 90% success rate. Final results will be posted in Administrivial Pursuits in mid-October. Stay tuned to future issues of Administrivial Pursuits to see ITA's overall performance results for FY 2006 and for the “rollout” of improved metrics for FY 2007. For additional information on ITA performance and results, contact Ed Meyer at (202)482-3304.

Request for Access to the Employee Personal Page (EPP)

Employees should access the NFC home page on the Internet (http://www.nfc.usda.gov/) and select My EPP to obtain a password to view specific payroll information. The NFC will mail the password directly to the employee. Employees must change the assigned NFC password upon the first time use in EPP. Employees are encouraged to periodically change the password to ensure confidentiality. For additional info about the EPP, please contact Vanessa Lewis at (202)482-8327 or via email at Vanessa_Lewis@ita.doc.gov.

Time in Grade Restrictions (TIG)

Have you ever wondered why the Federal government imposes TIG restrictions for promotions in the competitive service? It’s intended to prevent excessively rapid promotions and to protect competitive principles. TIG works as follows: 1.) Promotion to GS-6 and above: 52 weeks at the next lower grade level. Specialist or analyst (equivalent non-clerical work) positions are classified as two-grade interval jobs. Therefore TIG must be spent at a grade level that is two grades below the promotion level. For example, to be promoted to GS-11, you must have spent 52 weeks at the GS-9 level. Clerical or technician jobs are classified as one-grade interval positions. TIG must be spent at one grade below the next grade level. For example, to be promoted to the GS-7 level, 52 weeks must have been spent at GS-6 level. 2.) Promotions up to GS-5 may be advanced without time restrictions. Promotions are based on experience, education and performance. Please contact Tonya Battle on (202)482-1908 or via email at Tonya.Battle@mail.doc.gov.

Traveler’s Corner

Question: What is the website address for assistance in obtaining dollar conversion from another currency?

Answer: The website address to obtain a dollar conversion is: http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic. If you have questions, please call your travel contact or Sharon Russell at (202)482-3267.

Where do I find …. ITA Budget and Performance Information?

Did you know that ITA has budget and performance related documents that report ITA's budget, performance and results? The first document describes ITA's budget and performance at the summary level. This document is entitled the Budget in Brief. The “BIB”, as it is commonly called, is available in PDF format on the DOC budget office web site at: http://www.osec.doc.gov/bmi/budget/07BIB/ita.pdf
07BIB/ita.pdf. There is also a document that reflects ITA's past financial accountability and performance. This document is the Performance and Accountability (PAR) and the most recent version reflects ITA performance and accountability for FY 2005. The PAR for the entire Department is available at: http://www.osec.doc.gov/bmi/budget/FY05PAR.htm
FY05PAR.htm. ITA is described under the Department's strategic goal 1. The FY 2006 version of the PAR will be posted to the web in early November. For further information on budget, planning and performance management, contact Ed Meyer at (202)482-3304.