NAO 204-1

OFFICIAL TRAVEL

Issued 11/09/92; Effective 10/29/92

SECTION 1. PURPOSE.

This Order provides guidelines for the administration of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) policies and procedures concerning official domestic and foreign travel.

SECTION 2. SCOPE.

General. The provisions of this Order apply to all civilian employees of NOAA organizational units who approve or perform official domestic or foreign travel.

SECTION 3. REFERENCES.

.01 Department Administrative Order (DAO) 204-1, Official Travel, dated May 25, 1983

.02 NOAA Travel Handbook

SECTION 4. POLICY/PROCEDURES/RESPONSIBILITIES.

.01 Official travel shall be limited to the minimum amount required for conducting official business.

.02 The authority to approve official travel, granted to the Under Secretary and Administrator by DAO 204-1, Official Travel, dated May 5, 1983, is delegated to the officials listed in the NOAA Travel Handbook. Restrictions to this authority are listed in the NOAA Travel Handbook.

.03 Authorizing officials shall determine if the proposed travel is necessary before it is approved. Officials shall evaluate the proposed itinerary and duration of travel to ensure that the travel is essential to the effective performance of the work involved.

.04 Authorizing officials shall consider alternative means for accomplishing NOAA's mission, such as using available field personnel, correspondence, or telecommunications before approving travel.

.05 The number of employees selected to travel and/or attend international conventions and conferences at Government expense shall be limited to those whose attendance will significantly affect NOAA's mission.

.06 Reimbursement for official travel shall be established within the maximum prescribed allowance so that employees will not be financially rewarded or penalized for traveling.

.07 Travel authorizations will not be issued for periods extending beyond the fiscal year for which appropriated funds are available.

.08 The NOAA Travel Handbook is the primary reference guide for all NOAA employees in matters of civilian travel. The NOAA Travel Handbook (Handbook) is made up of the Federal Travel Regulations (white pages), Department of Commerce (DOC) Travel Regulations (yellow pages), and NOAA Travel Regulations (blue pages).

a. Types of Travel. Domestic travel is covered in Chapters 301-305 of the NOAA Travel Handbook. Foreign travel is covered in Chapter 306 of the NOAA Travel Handbook.

b. Precedence. The NOAA Travel Regulations shall take precedence over the DOC Travel Regulations when a conflict exists about certain rules, allowances, etc. The DOC Travel Regulations shall take precedence over the Federal Travel Regulations in the absence of NOAA Travel Regulations and when a conflict exists between the DOC and Federal Travel Regulations. In the absence of NOAA and DOC regulations, the Federal regulations shall apply.

c. Updates. It is most important for offices to keep their NOAA Travel Handbooks current by inserting the Travel Transmittals in their proper location as soon as they are received.

d. Applicability. The instructions and regulations in the NOAA Travel Handbook do not apply to NOAA commissioned personnel. Travel by NOAA commissioned personnel is authorized under the current provisions of the Joint Federal Travel Regulations.

.09 Each Administrative Service Center has a travel specialist in the Finance Services Division to answer any questions on temporary duty travel (TDY) and permanent change of station (PCS). Questions should be referred to these specialists only after consulting the NOAA Travel Handbook first.

.10 Each traveler and authorizing official is presumed, under law, to be familiar with the policies and procedures in the NOAA Travel Handbook. Lack of knowledge about applicable travel regulations shall not be considered an excuse for infractions of those same regulations.

SECTION 5. EFFECT ON OTHER ISSUANCES.

This Order replaces NOAA Directives Manual (NDM) 42-01, Travel and Transportation (General), dated August 16, 1983.

SIGNED,
Director, Office of Administration

Office of Primary Interest:
   Office of Administration
   Information Systems and Finance Office
   Finance Services Division (OA11)