|CHAPTER��15�-�USE�OF�RELOCATION�SERVICE�COMPANIES
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| | CHAPTER� 15 - USE OF RELOCATION SERVICE COMPANIES | 
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| | PART A:� USE OF RELOCATION SERVICE COMPANIES | 
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| | EFFECTIVE 9 DECEMBER 1997 | 
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| | C15000� AUTHORITY | 
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| | There is a DoD contract with a private firm under which DoD components may offer relocation services to employees described in this chapter.� Examples of these services are: | 
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| | 1.� home sale programs;� | 
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| | 2.� home finding assistance;� | 
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| | 3.� home marketing assistance;� | 
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| | 4.� spouse employment assistance;� | 
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| | 5.� property management (PM) services (see Part B); and� | 
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| | 6.� mortgage finding assistance. | 
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| | C15001� DoD COMPONENTS' RESPONSIBILITIES | 
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| | Each DoD component shall determine: | 
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| | 1) whether, to what extent, and under what conditions relocation services are offered to its employees who transfer within or between components or between DoD components and other agencies; and | 
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| | 2) which employees are offered relocation services. | 
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| | C15002� GENERAL ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS | 
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| | A. Employees Covered.� | 
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| | Relocation services may be offered if an employee: | 
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| | 1.� transfers from one official station to another in the Government's interest (not primarily for the employee's convenience or benefit, or at the employee's request), and� | 
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| | 2.� signs a transportation agreement (see Note 1) as required in par. C4001 (see NOTE 2). | 
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| | NOTE 1:� If the employee violates the agreement terms, the Government reserves the right to recover from the employee all payments made on the employee's behalf to the relocation company (see par. C4357). | 
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| | NOTE 2:� A transportation agreement is not required for PM services under C15053 for a TCS. | 
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| | B.� Persons Not Covered.� | 
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| | Relocation services shall not be offered to: | 
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| | 1.� any new appointee;� | 
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| | 2.� employees assigned under the Government Employees Training Act (5 U.S.C. �4109); or� | 
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| | 3.� employees assigned/transferred to/from a duty station in a foreign area except (a) employees eligible for residence transaction expenses reimbursement as provided in par. C14000-C, and (b) employees eligible for property management services under Part B. | 
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| | (NOTE: See subpar. C1057-B1, item f, to authorize payment under a relocation contract for reappraisal and re-inspection of hurricane-damaged homes for employees relocating from or to Presidentially-declared disaster areas.) | 
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| | C15003� PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS AND CONTROLS | 
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| | A. Employee Option.� | 
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| | Employees offered relocation services shall be given the option to accept or reject the offer. | 
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| | B. Dual Benefits Prohibited.� | 
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| | Once an employee accepts relocation services, reimbursement to the employee shall not be allowed for expenses, authorized in other parts of this regulation, that are analogous or similar to expenses or the cost for services the DoD component pays under the relocation service contract. | 
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| | C.� Payments on Behalf of Ineligible Individuals.� | 
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| | An eligible employee must meet the title requirements in par. C14000-E.� Components shall not make payment to relocation companies that benefit ineligible individuals.� For example, there is joint residence ownership by an eligible employee and a non-Government employee; the benefits derived from relocation services accrue proportionally to the eligible and ineligible parties.� Only that benefits share applicable to the eligible employee may be paid.� This situation is addressed for direct reimbursement of real estate expense under par. C14000-F; the same logic and provisions apply regarding relocation services. | 
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| | D.� Maximum Home Value.� | 
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| | The maximum home value under the DoD relocation contract for which home sale services are payable is $500,000, unless waived by the paying activity.� If a home is sold under a home sale program at a price exceeding $500,000, the employee is responsible for any additional costs unless the maximum is waived in accordance with component regulations. | 
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| | PART B:� PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (PM) SERVICES��� | 
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| | C15050� GENERAL��� | 
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| | A.� When Payment for PM Services may be Authorized.� | 
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| | A DoD component, when it determines through the Secretarial Process that it is in the Government's interest, may offer payment for PM services to assist an employee in offsetting costs associated with retaining a residence at the old PDS.� Payment for PM services may be authorized when an employee:��� | 
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| | 1.� transfers in the Government's interest to a PDS in a foreign area; or���� | 
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| | 2.� is assigned to a foreign PDS, is transferred back to a U.S. PDS different than the one the employee left when transferred to a foreign area, and is eligible to sell a residence at Government expense (i.e., PM services are in lieu of the sale of an employee's residence at Government expense); or���� | 
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| | 3.� transfers within the United States (see the definition in Appendix A), and is eligible to sell a residence at Government expense (i.e., PM services are in lieu of the sale of an employee's residence at Government expense); or | 
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| | 4.� is authorized TCS (see par. C4111). | 
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| | B.� How PM Services Obtained.� | 
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| | A DoD component shall use PM services included in the DoD National Relocation Program contract. | 
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| | C.� Definitions. | 
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| | 1.� PM Services.� | 
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| | PM services, provided by private companies for a fee, help an employee manage a residence at the old PDS as a rental property.� These services typically include:��� | 
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| | a.� obtaining a tenant;���� | 
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| | b.� negotiating the lease;���� | 
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| | c.� inspecting the property regularly;���� | 
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| | d.� managing repairs and maintenance;���� | 
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| | e.� enforcing lease terms;���� | 
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| | f.� collecting the rent;���� | 
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| | g.� paying the mortgage and other carrying expenses from rental proceeds and/or the employee's funds;���� | 
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| | h.� accounting for the transactions and providing periodic reports to the employee; and��� | 
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| | i.� similar services. | 
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| | 2.� Foreign Area.� | 
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