Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Policy Guide

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov

November 6, 2008

In Reply Refer To:
1382 (850) P

EMS TRANSMISSION 11/07/2008
Information Bulletin No. 2009-019

To: All Washington Office and Field Officials

From: Assistant Director, Business and Fiscal resources

Subject: Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Policy Guide

The Department of the Interior (DOI) recently undertook an initiative to standardize the relocation policy throughout the DOI. As a result, on September 30, 2008, Financial Administration Memorandum No. 2008-017 and its attached PCS Policy Guide were issued.

The significant changes to the current Bureau of Land Management (BLM) relocation policy, which can be found at http://nbcweb.blm.gov/ops/travel/, include:

The option of a fixed amount per diem rate reimbursement for a house-hunting trip.
Limiting the authorized period for actual temporary quarters subsistence expenses to a maximum of 30 days if a house-hunting trip was taken and a maximum of 60 days if no house-hunting trip was taken.
A change in the amount reimbursed for the home-marketing incentive to the lesser of:

(a) Three percent of the price the third party relocation contractor paid the employee for the home;

(b) The government savings resulting from the amended value sale; or

(c) $10,000.

The PCS Policy Guide, located at http://www.doi.gov/pfm/fams/fam2008-17.html, affects all relocating employees who receive written notification of an offer for a position with relocation benefits on/or after October 1, 2008. Current BLM policy, as outlined in the BLM Manual

Supplement H-1382-1, 4/18/05, “Permanent Change of Station Employee Guide,” will apply to all relocating employees who received written notification of the offer of a position with relocation benefits on/or before September 30, 2008.

Please direct any questions you may have regarding PCS to Chris Barned, Chief, Travel Unit, Division of Business Services, National Operations Center, at (303) 236-6276.

Signed by: Authenticated by:
Michael A. Ferguson Robert M. Williams
Assistant Director Division of IRM Governance,WO-560
Business and Fiscal Resources