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Ethics Office and NRCS Travelers

Updated 12/21/2005

 A. Information Sheet for NRCS Travelers Seeking Ethics Prior Approval for Non-Federal Travel Assistance (1353)

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Prior Approval
  1. Print out the Form Approval & Report of Travel Funds Rec'd From Non-Federal Sources. Adobe Acrobat Document (Form 1101)
  2. Complete the Form -- The employee must complete the front and the six (6) questions in the top half of the form (2nd page). Also, make sure you specify the type of business or industry the paying source is engaged in below the response to Event Information, Item 4. 
  3. Sign the Form as the Traveler, where indicated.
  4. Get your supervisor's concurrence.
  5. To be approved the form must have the signature of the Deputy Chief or STC next to the answer to question #4, (regarding the nature and sensitivity of any matter pending in NRCS affecting the interests of the non-Federal source.) See instructions for submitting the form, below.
  6. Submit the form  and a copy of the unsolicited offer to your servicing ethics advisor, as noted below.  If this is international travel, you must also send a copy of the approved International Travel Form.
  7. Where to Send the Request:

State Office Employees:  Submit the above information to your servicing state ethics advisor.  The state ethics advisor will consult with the STC and, if the STC supports the request, obtain the STC's signature next to the answer to question #4. (See 5, above.) [If the STC does not support the request, it should not be forwarded for further processing.] The STC will forward requests for approval to the Regional Assistant Chief (RAC).  The RAC will forward it to the NRCS Ethics Office.

Headquarter's Employees: Submit the above information to your Deputy Chief for signature (see 5, above) and then forward itto the NRCS Ethics Office.  [If the Deputy Chief does not support the request, it should not be forwarded for further processing.  [Employees serviced by Ginger McGill should submit forms to the NRCS Ethics Office through Ginger McGill.

Ethics Review and Decision:  After receipt of the required information, the NRCS Ethics Office will evaluate the request, prepare the conflict of interest analysis, and obtain approval from the Deputy Chief for Management, if appropriate.

ALLOW 2 WEEKS FOR THE ETHICS REVIEW AND DECISION

B. Information Sheet for NRCS Travelers Seeking Ethics Post Approval for Non-Federal Travel Assistance (1353)

Post Approval

Employee Responsibility:  Within 7 working days after the trip ends, the traveler must notify the NRCS Ethics Office and request Agency authorization for acceptance of any non-Federal travel assistance not approved prior to travel.  Acceptance of any such funds must be consistent with Federal Travel Regulations, Chapter 304, Payment of Travel Expenses from Non-Federal Source, Subchapter A-Employee's Acceptance of Payment From a Non-Federal Source for Travel Expenses.

Supervisory Responsibility:  Supervisors should not approve a voucher for travel involving non-Federal travel assistance for which required ethics approval for any such assistance has not been obtained.

C. Information for SARE Related Travel Assistance

Acceptance of Travel Assistance for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Activities (National Instruction 110- 300 First Edition, dated 03/24/2005)

Send comments to nrcs-ethics@wdc.usda.gov

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