November 5, 1997

BULLETIN NO. 98-02

TO THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

1. Purpose. The purpose of this Bulletin is to provide instructions for preparing information necessary to accurately report the expenses of Federal employee relocation.

2. Background and authority. Section 635 of the Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations Act, FY 1998 (P.L. 105-61), directs OMB to require all Federal departments and agencies to report total obligations for the expenses of employee relocation associated with the past, current, and budget years (FY 1997-1999). OMB is required to compile this information in the form of a table, presenting obligations for the expenses of employee relocation for all departments and agencies, and transmit this table to Congress each year as part of the President's annual budget.

3. Coverage. This Bulletin applies to all executive branch departments and agencies.

4. Definitions. For the purposes of this Bulletin, employee relocation expenses are payments to Federal employees for costs related to permanent change in a workstation; i.e., when the Federal government pays a person to move residence because he or she is assigned to work in a different place; e.g., city, state, or country. All obligations incident to employee relocation authorized under either chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, or section 901 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4081; Public Law 96-465), shall be included. These obligations are normally reported as part of the following object classes (OC):

• travel and transportation of persons (OC 2 1);
  
  
• transportation of things (e.g., movement of household goods, except for storage costs, which are under OC 25.7) OC 22-)
  
  
• civilian personnel benefits (e.g., various relocation allowances, expenses associated with sale of residence, breaking a lease) OC 12. 1;
  
  
• military personnel benefits (same as OC 12. 1, except that it applies to military personnel only) OC 12.2; and
  
  
• operation and maintenance of equipment (includes contractual services for storage and care of vehicles and storage of household goods; but only those associated with relocation) OC 25.7.

5. Required Materials. The information should be provided in the format of the attached table (Exhibit A).

6. Due dates. The information is due to OMB no later than five days after the MAX data base supporting the FY 1999 Budget is closed to agency input. Agencies should send Exhibit A to the OMB Resource Management Office (RMO) with primary budget responsibility for the agency.

7. Information contact. Inquiries concerning this Bulletin may be addressed to the OMB representatvie with primary budget responsibility for the agency.

Franklin D. Raines
Director

Attachment

Exhibit A

OMB RMO Contact:
Extension:
Agency Contact:
Phone Number:

Department/Agency:
Employee Relocation Expenses

*obligations in millions of dollars