r4 Supplement 6509.33-2010-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 10/27/2010
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed. / 6509.33_301-11
Page 1 of 5
FSH 6509.33 – FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS
Chapter 301 – TEMPORARY DUTY (TDY) TRAVEL ALLOWANCES
PART 301-11 – PER DIEM EXPENSES
/ Forest Service Handbook
intermountain region (region 4)
ogden, ut

fsH 6509.33 – federal travel regulations

part 301-11 – per diem allowance

Supplement No.: 6509.33-2010-1

Effective Date: October 27, 2010

Duration: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.

Approved: HARV FORSGREN
Regional Forester / Date Approved: 10/27/2010

Posting Instructions: Supplements are numbered consecutively by Handbook number and calendar year. Post by document; remove entire document and replace it with this supplement. Retain this transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. The last supplement to this Handbook was 6509.33-2002-1 to 6509.33 chapter 301.

New Document(s): / 6509.33_301-11 / 4 Pages
Superseded Document(s) by
Issuance Number and Effective Date / 6509.33_301-11 (Supplement R4 6509.33-2001-1, 05/29/2001) / 3 Pages

Digest:

301-11.200 – Exhibit 01– Updates the field temporary duty (TDY) per diem rate for the Intermountain Region.

Subpart C - Reduced Per Diem

301-11.200 - Under what circumstances may my agency prescribe a reduced per diem rate lower than the prescribed maximum?

Exhibit 01, Intermountain Region Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Use of Field Temporary Duty (TDY) Per Diem, provides the field temporary duty (TDY) per diem rate for the Intermountain Region.

301-11.200 - Exhibit 01

Intermountain Region

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Regarding the Use of Field Temporary Duty (TDY) Per Diem

  1. The USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region (R4) and the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW (Union), otherwise referred to as “the Parties”, through Partnership, have negotiated field per diem rates for employees assigned to Temporary Duty (TDY) and agree to these provisions and terms.
  1. A special per diem rate has been established for employees who subsist themselves by purchasing and preparing their own food while in official travel status. This reduced per diem rate is frequently called the “field rate.” The most common use of “field rate” occurs when employees are working out in the field and camping overnight for one or more nights.
  1. Field rates will apply when the government furnishes lodging quarters (at the minimum, a tent), cooking equipment and utensils. If the government does not provide these items and employees are required to bring their own, employees will be reimbursed at the full M&IE rate (and not the reduced field rate) for the county in which they are working. However, if the government does provide these items, but an employee chooses to use their own provisions, field rates will still apply.

*NOTE: An employee may use personal equipment only when documented and approved by their supervisor, prior to use, as required by FSM 6412.11-1.d.

  1. The Intermountain Region field per diem rate will be 60% (rounded to the nearest dollar) of the Meal & Incidental (M&IE) locality rate established in the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR).

The following is a list of the M&IE rates and an example of what the field rate would be for each.

If the FTR Rate for
the applicable County is: / Field Rate:
60%
$46 / $28
$51 / $31
$56 / $34
$61 / $37
$66 / $40
$71 / $43

Table A: Reduced Per Diem Rates

301-11.200 - Exhibit 01--Continued

Intermountain Region

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Regarding the Use of Field Temporary Duty (TDY) Per Diem

  1. The first and last days of travel status will be .75 of the locality rate established in the FTR (and not 75% of the reduced field rate).
  1. Employees are entitled to the “field per diem” rate while lodging at their home if their official duty station is more than 35 miles from their residential community and the employee is required to travel to their residential community for official business. The following are excluded: 1) Telecommuting; 2) When the employee’s travel does not meet the definition of TDY (12 hours and 25 miles for same day travel or 35 miles for overnight travel).
  1. Dependent upon agreement between management and effected employee(s) and situational specifics (cost, weather conditions or other unavoidable obstacles) on a given assignment, employee(s) will receive field per diem on their days off while employee(s) remains at same TDY location of their last day worked.
  1. There may be occasions when meals are provided by the government for employees receiving field rate. Examples may include providing freeze-dried food or bringing in a cook or caterer. When this occurs, the appropriate amounts shall be deducted from the employee’s travel voucher based on these field rates and specified deduction amounts:

If field rate is: / Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner / Incidentals
$28 / $5 / $6 / $12 / $5
$31 / $5 / $7 / $14 / $5
$34 / $6 / $8 / $15 / $5
$37 / $6 / $9 / $17 / $5
$40 / $7 / $9 / $19 / $5
$43 / $7 / $10 / $21 / $5

Table B: Itemized Rate Deductions

  1. The incidentals portion of $5.00 shall be paid daily to the employee, without regard to how many meals are provided.

301-11.200 - Exhibit 01--Continued

Intermountain Region

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Regarding the Use of Field Temporary Duty (TDY) Per Diem

  1. This 60% of Locality field rate will remain in effect until renegotiated with the Union.
  1. The interests attempted to be addressed in reaching this agreement were : (1) bargaining unit employees not be penalized as a result of TDY locations in remote areas; (2) financial impact is minimal on programs with employees assigned full-time to remote duty stations; (3) fairness to employees; and (4) simple and easy to manage. The Parties agree that these provisions and terms adequately address and deal with these interests.
  1. This constitutes the complete understanding between the Parties. No other terms or conditions have been agreed to by the Parties.
  1. The terms and conditions of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) shall be effective upon the date of signing. If either party wishes to modify its terms, written notification of a desire to reopen it must be provided to the other party. This MOU shall terminate 30 calendar days after either party notifies the other, in writing, of its desire to terminate it.

/s/ Brian Ferebee /s/ David V. Chevalier

Brian FerebeeDavid Chevalier

Acting Deputy Regional ForesterIAMAW, NFFE Council Vice President

USDA Forest ServiceRegion 4

Intermountain Region

10/13/201010/13/2010

DateDate