October 2012 US. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION POLICY Permanent Change of Station Policy Produced by the Office of Financial Management U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. October 2012 ii U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION POLICY Table of Contents Chapter 1. General Eligibility for a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Move and Guidance for Initiating a Move 1 1.1. Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Involuntary and Voluntary Transfer Eligibility for Relocation Expense Allowances ...................... 1 1.2.1. Involuntary Transfer .............................................................................................................. 1 1.2.2. Voluntary Transfer ................................................................................................................. 2 1.3. Distance Rules for Eligibility .......................................................................................................... 4 1.4. Relocation Entitlements and Discretionary Expenses .................................................................. 5 1.4.1. New Appointees Relocation Expenses ................................................................................. 5 1.4.2. Transferring Employee Relocation Expenses ....................................................................... 7 1.5. Immediate Family ........................................................................................................................ 12 1.6. Two or More Family Members Employed ................................................................................... 12 1.7. Time Limitations on Incurrence of Expense ................................................................................ 13 1.8. Relocation Counseling for Transferring Employees and New Appointees ................................. 13 1.9. Relocation Counseling Bureau and Office Requirements .......................................................... 14 1.10. Temporary Change of Station (TCS) .......................................................................................... 14 Chapter 2. PCS Charge Card Usage and PCS Advances ................................................................ 16 2.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 16 2.2. DOI Government-Issued Charge Card ....................................................................................... 16 2.2.1. Overview ............................................................................................................................. 16 2.2.2. Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Charge Card Advances ................................................ 18 2.3. Travel Advances ......................................................................................................................... 18 2.3.1. Overview ............................................................................................................................. 18 Chapter 3. Househunting Trip ............................................................................................................ 19 3.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 19 3.2. Authorization ............................................................................................................................... 19 3.3. Time Limit .................................................................................................................................... 19 3.4. Transportation ............................................................................................................................. 20 3.4.1. Air Transportation ................................................................................................................ 20 3.4.2. Personally Owned Vehicle .................................................................................................. 20 3.5. Per Diem ..................................................................................................................................... 20 3.5.1. Method 1: Locality Actual Subsistence Rate ....................................................................... 20 3.5.2. Method 2: Lump Sum Reimbursement ............................................................................... 21 Chapter 4. En Route Transportation and Per Diem for Employee and Immediate Family ........... 22 iii U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION POLICY 4.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 22 4.2. Transportation ............................................................................................................................. 22 4.3. Per Diem Allowances .................................................................................................................. 24 4.3.1. Meals and Incidental Expenses (M&IE) .............................................................................. 24 4.3.2. Lodging ................................................................................................................................ 25 Chapter 5. Temporary Quarters .......................................................................................................... 26 5.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 26 5.2. Actual Expense Method for Temporary Quarters Subsistence Expense ................................... 26 5.3. Maximum Reimbursement for Actual Expense Method .............................................................. 28 5.4. Lump Sum Method for Temporary Quarters Subsistence Expense ........................................... 28 Chapter 6. Transportation and Temporary Storage of Household Goods (HHG) and Professional Books, Papers and Equipment ................................................................................................................ 29 6.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 29 6.2. HHG and Personal Effects Shipped under the Actual Expense Method .................................... 29 6.3. Weight Allowances ...................................................................................................................... 30 6.4. Disassemble/Reassemble ........................................................................................................... 30 6.5. Carrier Parking, Inventory, and Loading of HHG ........................................................................ 30 6.6. Carrier Delivery and Unpacking of HHG ..................................................................................... 30 6.7. Loss or Damage of HHG ............................................................................................................. 31 6.8. Reimbursement for Shipping ....................................................................................................... 31 6.9. Commuted Rate Method (CONUS Only) .................................................................................... 31 6.10. Shipment of HHG To and From OCONUS ................................................................................. 32 6.10.1. Allowable Costs ................................................................................................................... 32 6.10.2. Procedures Applicable ........................................................................................................ 33 6.11. Temporary Storage of HHG (CONUS Locations) ....................................................................... 33 6.12. Extension of Storage Time Allowed (CONUS) ............................................................................ 33 6.13. Temporary Storage of HHG (OCONUS) ..................................................................................... 34 6.14. Extension of Storage Time Allowed (OCONUS) ......................................................................... 34 6.15. Shipment of Professional Books and Papers .............................................................................. 34 6.16. Do It Yourself (DITY) Shipment of HHG ..................................................................................... 35 Chapter 7. Transportation of a Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) ...................................................... 36 7.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 36 7.2. Transportation of POV within CONUS ........................................................................................ 36 7.3. Transportation of POV outside CONUS ...................................................................................... 37 Chapter 8. Transportation of Mobile Home ....................................................................................... 38 8.1. Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 38 iv U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE