GENERAL PROCESS

At the end of each calendar year, the Department of the Interior's National Business Center (NBC) updates the Quarters Management Information System (QMIS) database with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and regional surveys if applicable (regional surveys are conducted every 3 years). Existing inventories are automatically updated and the new tenants who complete their housing inventory establish new inventories. The NBC maintains a web page for their quarters information at: http://www.nbc.gov/quarter.html. The quarters inventory form and instructions for their preparation are available in the "Inv of Gov Quarters" tab or directly at: http://www.nbc.gov/inv.html.

Housing managers certify the inventories' accuracy. Inventories are then submitted to the Real Property Management Division (RPMD) for input in the QMIS database. The RPMD generates the reports that indicate the new rental rates and prepares NOAA Forms 40-2, Notification of Change in Housing Assignment. The forms are signed and approved by the housing manager and a Real Property Contracting Officer. The RPMD submits the NOAA Forms 40-2 to the Workforce Management Division to proceed with the payroll deductions for rent payments.

RESOURCES

OMB Circular A-45 at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a045/a045.html contains procedures to be used in establishing rental rates and charges for living quarters provided to federal employees and contains construction standards for housing units. It also encourages the use of the survey method rather than appraisals for determining rental rates. The survey method has been accepted government-wide as the fairest method for establishing rental rates. The government rental rate is set in accordance with A-45 and is composed of the Monthly Base Rental Rate (MBRR) plus utilities and charges for other services and any administrative and annual CPI adjustments to this base rate. The MBRR is established by a regional survey method using typical rental rates for comparable private rental housing of the established communities nearest to the sites in which government units are located.

OMB Circular A-25 at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a025/print/a025.html establishes federal policy regarding fees assessed for government services and for sale or use of government goods or resources. It provides information on the scope and types of activities subject to user charges and on the basis upon which user charges are to be set. It also provides guidance for agency implementation of charges and the disposition of collections.

The Department of the Interior's National Business Center is responsible for the Government-Provided Housing Program. It requires housing managers to provide correct calculations and timely implementation of rental rates. NBC also provides guidance and technical information on housing, maintains and updates the QMIS database, and provides computerized annual updates to the housing managers. NBC also conducts workshops to train employees who administer the Housing Management Program.