August 26, 2015 TO ALL TRANSPORTATION SERVICE PROVIDERS APPROVED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CENTRALIZED HOUSEHOLD GOODS TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM: This Request for Offers (RFO) transmits the issuance of the 2015-2016 Filing Cycle Special Instructions for the filing of rate offers in the General Service Administration’s (GSA’s) Centralized Household Goods Traffic Management Program (CHAMP) specific to the Filing Cycle for the period November 1, 2015 through October 31, 2016. This RFO and Special Instructions are in accordance with the Household Goods Tender of Service (HTOS). Transportation Service Providers (TSPs) who are approved to participate in CHAMP and have agreed to abide by the terms of the HTOS, supplements thereto and reissues thereof, are eligible to file rate offers in accordance with this RFO and these Special Instructions. While we strongly encourage TSPs to read the entire RFO and Special Instructions, we’ve highlighted below the major changes new to this RFO and Special Instructions and others that have been carried over from previous RFOs that need to be highlighted again. These, along with other major changes to the RFO and Special Instructions, have also been highlighted in “red” within the documents themselves. Due Date: Rate offers must be submitted in accordance with this RFO and Special Instructions by the Initial Filing due date of 10:00 PM Central Standard Time, October 5, 2015 and/or the Supplemental Filing due date of 10:00 PM Central Standard Time, March 14, 2016. Rate offers received after these dates and/or not submitted in accordance with this RFO and Special Instructions will not be accepted. Increase to the Rates and Charges in the GSA01: Effective November 1, 2015, a 3% increase will be applied to all of the rates and charges in the GSA01. Change of Address: Please note that the address for CHAMP’s Program Management Office has changed. The new address is: General Services Administration, Relocation Services Branch (QMCCB), 2300 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64108. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): GSA will no longer be accepting TINs when submitting rate offers. For those TSPs submitting rate offers via the Formatting Instructions provided in Section 6, please insert 9 spaces (space bar) in positions 63-71 as identified in Section 6-2.1. Header Record. Item 33 – Impracticable Operations and Application of Shuttle Service of the GSA01; Part A: Impracticable Operations identifies those instances which may result in the request by the TSP and the approval of the RTO for Shuttle Service. Part B: Application of Shuttle Service goes on to state " Upon request of the shipper, consignee or owner of the goods, the carrier will use or engage smaller equipment than its normal road haul equipment or provide extra labor for the purpose, if possible, of transferring the shipment between the origin or -2- destination address and the point of transfer (normally the carrier's nearest warehouse or storage facitly) to or from the carrier's road haul equipment...." This serves as clarification that for those shipments where one or more instances of Part A are satisfied, then the TSP may request the use of Shuttle Service. This request must be submitted to the RTO in writing and be approved in writing by the RTO. If approved and performed, the TSP must submit the following documentation when billing for shuttle service performed: - copy of the request submitted to the RTO as to why shuttle service was requested; - copy of the written approval from the RTO approving the use of a shuttle; and - copy of the document containing the signature of the employee specifically identifying that shuttle service was performed. The above documentation must be submitted in order to meet the documentation requirements of GSA's Audit Division. If shuttle service is performed for one of those non-alternating standing route orders (SROs) identified in Section 3 of an RFO that has required that all costs associated with shuttle service be included in the submitted line-haul rate offer, then no documentation is necessary as the TSP is not allowed to bill separately for the provision of shuttle service under those SROs with this inclusion. Certified Weight Scales: This serves as clarification that any reference in the RFO, HTOS or GSA01 to a weight scale for the purpose of weighing a domestic household goods shipment is meant to identify that a certified weight scale must be used. Any weight ticket submitted for support of payment that is not conducted on a certified weight scale will not meet the documentation requirements of GSA's Audit Division. For household goods shipments weighed at an international location, a certified weight scale must also be used, if available. If a certified weight scale is not available, the TSP must document on the weight ticket submitted for payment that a certified weight scale was not available. General Valuation: Effective November 1, 2012, all shipments moved under CHAMP, unless otherwise noted, are released at $6.00 times the net weight of the shipment in pounds applicable to both shipments in transit and storage-in-transit (SIT). While we are in the process of making the necessary updates to the HTOS, the increase in general valuation to $6.00 times the net weight of the shipment in pounds as identified and incorporated in this RFO and Special Instructions will supersede any reference to $5.00 in the HTOS. Changes to Non-Alternating Standing Route Orders (SROs): Changes have been made to the SROs for the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVADC), the Department of Treasury, Administrative Resource Center (ARCWV) and the Department of State (DOSDC) (which also applies to DOSHW and DOSSA) identified in Section 3. These changes have been highlighted in “red.” And as always, please review Section 3 closely for any other agency specific requirements and changes. Change to Item 130, Light and Bulky Article Classifications of the GSA01: While we are in the process of making the necessary updates to Item 130 of the GSA01, by identification in -3- this RFO and Special Instructions, effective May 1, 2015 the second paragraph of Item 130 under the title of “Classification of Articles” is changed to read: MOTORCYCLES; MOTORBIKES; GO-CARTS; THREE OR FOUR-WHEEL ALL TERRAIN CYCLES; RIDING MOWERS; or TRACTORS (less than 25 horsepower); SNOW MOBILES; MOTORIZED GOLF CARTS; JET SKIS; WINDSURFERS; TRAILERS, INCLUDING UTILITY AND POP-UP TRAILERS less than 14 feet in length; and CANOES, SKIFFS, ROWBOATS, DINGHIES, SCULLS AND KAYAKS less than 14 feet in length (mounted or un-mounted on trailers) (excluding toys and articles capable of being transported in standard cartons as defined in Item 105). Canadian Province: Effective November 1, 2014, the individual Canadian provinces of Labrador and Newfoundland will be removed and replaced with the province of “Newfoundland and Labrador.” “Additional Services Cost Schedule “D”” of the GSA01 will apply to the new province of “Newfoundland and Labrador. TSPs with Labrador and/or Newfoundland in their approved scope of operations will now be able to file for the province of “Newfoundland and Labrador.” Please refer to Section 5-2.1. Interstate Identification Codes and 5-2.2. Intrastate Identification Codes for specific filing codes. Mileage Application: Effective November 1, 2015, Web Based Version 29 of ALK Technologies, Inc. will apply (see 2-7.1.1. for additional details and application). Hawaiian Transit Times: The current HTOS does not contain transit times between Hawaii and any State, Trust Territory, or Possession of the United States (States). While we are in the process of making the necessary updates to the HTOS, by identification in this RFO and Special Instructions a transit time of 47 days will apply between Hawaii and any State, Trust Territory, or Possession of the United States (States). Reweighing of Shipments in Excess of 18,000 Pounds: Effective August 1, 2011, a packing allowance of 2,000 pounds was added to account for the weight of packing materials. This packing allowance is only applicable if and when an employee exceeds the 18,000 pound weight entitlement. At the request of the CHAMP Inter-Agency Advisory Group, Section 2- 7.15. of this RFO and Special Instructions was updated to reflect 18,000 pounds instead of 20,000 pounds that was in a previous RFO. As a result, prior to the commencement of the unloading of a shipment weighed at origin which exceeds the 18,000 pound weight allowance, the TSP shall reweigh the shipment at destination. This reweigh must take place on a certified weight scale and be conducted by an authorized weigh master. The charges to the Federal agency shall be based on the lower of the two weights and copies of both sets of weight tickets shall be provided to the Federal agency prior to submitting the invoice for payment. Change to External Crating Charge Specified in HTOS Section 12-11.B. International: While we are in the process of making the necessary updates to Section 12-11.B. of the HTOS, by identification in this RFO and Special Instructions effective November 1, 2012, external crating charges will be based on the provisions below: HTOS, Section 12-11.B. External shipping containers are authorized for items that will not fit into standard HHG -4- shipping containers. (1) Compensation: US$7.00 per cubic foot, ( US$233.85 per cubic meter) no minimum charge. (2) Container becomes property of the Government. International Performance Bond : All TSPs approved to provide International General Transportation and International Move Management Services are required as part of their filings to furnish a performance bond in accordance with the HTOS (Section 2-4.8) and subject to the provisions of Section 1-4 of this RFO.