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| Government Credit Cards |
In 1998, General
Services Administration (GSA) awarded five contracts that provide Federal agencies a new way to pay for commercial goods and services as well as travel and fleet related expenses. With GSA SmartPay, you have a choice of leading-edge card services to help you do your job more efficiently.
Based on the GSA's SmartPay Charge Card Program, Department of Commerce (DOC) selected Citibank as its card issuer and VISA as the card brand to be used. The GSA SmartPay
program has vision of adopting 'smartcard' technology so that, ultimately, every employee will be able to use one card for a wide range of purposes, including travel, fleet and purchasing.
Under the Department of Commerce task order, DOC requires "the integration of purchase, travel and fleet card business line processes .... leading to a one-card solution in the future".
GSA SmartPay can assist you with electronic access systems assign a default accounting codes to each cardholder that identifies the account/project to which that person usually bills expenses.
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| Purchase Cards |
Obtaining a Card |
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The goals of the Department of Commerce Purchase Card program are to: improve mission support, streamline the placement of the micro-purchases and reduce administrative costs and paperwork, while ensuring adherence federal acquisition regulations. The purchase card must be used only for
official government purposes. |
- Nomination of Cardholders: A supervising official or appropriate senior official (e.g. Team Leader, Group Leader,Division Chief, etc.) must nominate prospective cardholders and Approving Officials. Nominations must be forwarded to the servicing Heads of Contracting Offices (HCO) with a completed Government Card Set-Up Form ( for cardholder) or a Government Approving Official Set-Up Form.
- Notification: The Commerce Bankcard Center (CBC) will notify cardholders and Approving Officials via e-mail that their applications have been processed.
Once approved, the Card will be mailed directly to the cardholder.
- Prior to using the Government Card: All new cardholders must read the Travel, Purchase or Fleet Card Procedures and certify that they have read and understand the requirements and limitations on use of the Government Cards. Cardholders and Approving Officials must sign the certification and submit it to the Commerce BankCard
Center.
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Allowable
Purchases: over-the -counter purchases, phone orders,
mail/catalog orders, internet purchases, construction services, training
courses, conference registration fees and business cards. Cardholders must exercise discretion in selecting internet
merchants that are reputable in order to minimize the possibility of
fraud.
Lost or Stolen Purchase Cards:
If purchase card are lost or stolen, the cardholder must
report it promptly to Citibank at 1-800-790-7206.
For more information check:
The GSA SmartPay Web-based
training Purchase Card Program
The Commerce Bankcard (CBC) Acquisition Manual - Purchase Card Procedures
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| Travel Cards |
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When traveling for the Government, use of the Government travel charge card is mandatory, unless an exemption has been granted. The travel charge
cards contain identifiers to obtain negotiated Government discounts for airfare and tax exemption.
Government travel charge cards are VISA or MasterCard brands and can be used at anylocation that accepts VISA or MasterCard credit cards, including internationally.
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Allowable
Purchases: Laundry/Dry cleaning, Parking, Local transportation system, Taxi, Airline tickets, Tips, Hotels, Meals, and Phone calls.
Lost or Stolen Travel Cards:
Report lost or stolen contractor-issued Government travel charge cards immediately to the contractor, even if the card number is not known. Call toll-free 1-800-492-4922. From overseas call collect at(602) 492-4922.
For more information check the GSA SmartPay Web-based training Travel Card Program
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| Responsibilities |
Immediate Supervisor:
- Notify the employee of any
questionable or inappropriate charges and/or delinquencies and
give the employee the opportunity to explain the charge or
delinquency.
- Take the appropriate
disciplinary action if the explanation is inadequate. At the
discretion of the supervisor, the card may be revoke at this
time.
- Retrieve the charge card from
the employee and return it to the bureau charge card coordinator
for cancellation when an employee leaves, retires or transfers
to another Government Agency.
Employee:
- A monthly billing statement from
the card issuer will be sent to either the home or office
address. If the statement is not received, the employee should
contact the contractor/card issuer.
- Payment in full, is due to
the contractor on or before the next statement billing date.
- If the charge card bill contains
a disputed charge, it is the employee's reponsability to contact
the contractor/card issuer.
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| Fleet
Cards |
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GSA Fleet provides the Voyager Fleet card with each leased vehicle for the purchase of fuel and minor maintenance. This card program offers widespread acceptance for our customer drivers as well as innovative technology behind-the-scenes to help GSA Fleet control costs.
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Allowable Purchases:
Minor Repair and Emergency Services:
Purchases for maintenance and repair services are limited to $100 without prior approval. If repairs on your vehicle exceed $100, the vendor must contact the GSA Maintenance Control Center (MCC) at 1-888-622-6344 for authorization. If your vehicle requires after-hours emergency repairs when the MCC is closed, Citibank/Voyager can authorize the use of your card for purchases up to $500. Emergency repairs are vehicle breakdowns, accidents, tire blow out, towing, etc.
Fuel Purchases:
Purchase regular unleaded self-service gasoline from service stations offering the lowest price except when: The vehicle requires diesel fuel, the use of premium grade fuel is approved by the servicing Fleet Management Center, the operator has a physical limitation preventing him or her from pumping fuel or severe weather conditions exist.
Lost or Stolen Fleet Cards:
Contact your local Fleet Management Center immediately at 1-888-622-6344. They will order a replacement card for your vehicle. DO NOT contact Voyager directly to report a lost card. All card requests must go through the Fleet Management Centers.
For more information check the GSA SmartPay Fleet Services Card
Proper Use of Citibank Government Travel Charge Cards from the Under Secretary, December 2002
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