|CHAPTER��4�-�EMPLOYEE�TRAVEL
    PART�L:��PER�DIEM�ALLOWANCES
        C4554��PER�DIEM�RULES�CONCERNING�MEALS
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| | C4554� PER DIEM RULES CONCERNING MEALS | 
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| | A. Determination of M&IE Rate | 
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| | 1. Full Days | 
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| | a. CONUS | 
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| | (1)� in Appendix E, | 
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| | (2)� standard Government meal rate for meals in a Government mess, plus $2 for incidental expenses on any day all three meals are consumed in a Government mess, or | 
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| | (3)� the proportional rate on any day when at least one, but not all three, meals are consumed in a Government mess.� The proportional rate is the average of the standard Government meal rate and the meals portion of the applicable M&IE rate as listed in Appendix D, rounded to the nearest dollar, plus $2 for incidental expenses. | 
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| | b.� OCONUS | 
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| | (1) in Appendix B, (use $3.50 for the incidental rate, when quartered on a U.S. installation and a Government mess isn't used, instead of the incidental expense rate for the locality concerned see note below on incidental expense)), or | 
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| | (2)standard Government meal rate for meals in a Government mess plus the incidental expense rate (see note below) on any day all three meals are consumed in a Government mess, or� | 
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| | (3)the proportional meal rate (the average of the standard Government meal rate and the meals portion of the applicable M&IE rate as listed in Appendix B, rounded to the nearest dollar) plus the incidental expense rate (see note below).� The proportional meal rate applies on any day when at least one, but not all three meals, are consumed in a Government mess. | 
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| | NOTE:The incidental expense rate OCONUS is that in Appendix B, or $3.50 when the employee is TDY to a U.S. installation and Government quarters are available.� There are two exceptions: | 
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| | 1.The order-issuing official can determine $3.50 to be adequate for anticipated expenses when the employee isn't lodged on a U.S. installation.� The OCONUS incidental expense of $3.50 may be authorized and must be stated in the travel order.� | 
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| | 2.The order-issuing official can determine that the $3.50 isn't adequate on a U.S. installation and authorize/approve the incidental expense rate in Appendix B.� In this case, payment of the Appendix B incidental expense rate must be stated in the travel order.� | 
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| | c.� Joint Task Force (JTF) Operations� | 
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| | There are special meal per diem provisions for employees when a JTF Temporary Dining Facility is set up to feed U.S. personnel deployed in support of the JTF mission.� Employees consuming meals at the JTF dining facility pay the discount Government meal rate for meals, plus incidental expense of either $2.00 in the CONUS or the incidental rate in Appendix B, or $3.50 OCONUS when the order-issuing authority determines $3.50 to be adequate for anticipated expenses.� If the employee misses a meal, the order-issuing authority can authorize the proportional rate for that day.� For employees assigned to the JTF who perform TDY outside the area of responsibility (AOR) or en route to the AOR normal rules apply. | 
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| | 2.Partial Days.� | 
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| | On partial days (days of departure and day of return to PDS), no deductions for meals consumed in a Government mess will be made. | 
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| | 3.Schoolhouse Training (Formal Courses of Instruction).� | 
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| | Orders to schoolhouse training must allow the schoolhouse commander to determine the appropriate meals rate.� If there is information about the course that provides the appropriate meal rate, that information, and its source, should be part of the order. | 
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| | B.� Deductible Meals | 
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| | The proportional per diem rate prescribed in par. A above applies on any day when one or two deductible meals are provided. A deductible meal is a meal:� | 
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| | 1.made available pursuant to an agreement between a Uniformed Service and any organization, if the order directs use of the facility providing the meal(s); | 
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| | 2.included in a registration fee ultimately paid by the Government; | 
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| | 3.furnished at no cost to the traveler by a school while attending a course of instruction if the cost of the meal is ultimately paid for by the Government; or | 
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| | 4.furnished by the Government at no cost to the traveler. | 
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| | The following aren't deductible meals: | 
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| | 1.Box lunches (which include such things as C Rations, K Rations, MRE's) -- except when Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MRE's) and/or box lunches are the only method of providing adequate subsistence to travelers. | 
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| | 2. in-flight meals,� | 
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| | 3. rations furnished by the Government on military aircraft, | 
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| | 4. Government meals paid for by the traveler and consumed in a Government mess, | 
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| | 5.meals furnished on commercial aircraft, or | 
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| | 6.� meals provided by private individuals. | 
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| | NOTE:� If all three meals are provided/consumed at no cost to the traveler only the incidental expenses for that day ($2 in CONUS; or the incidental expenses in Appendix B or $3.50 OCONUS) are payable. | 
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| | C.�Absence of Commercial OCONUS Establishments Which Prepare and Serve Meals. | 
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| | When:� | 
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| | 1.Government quarters are available or Government contractor's lodging facilities are used at an OCONUS location and, | 
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| | 2.a determination is made by the order-issuing or authenticating official that there are no commercial establishments available which prepare and serve food either at or within a reasonable distance from the TDY station, | 
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| | per diem for full days should be based on the normal costs for food in whatever facilities are available and normally used by travelers at that place.� The order-issuing or authenticating official must determine and state the rate of per diem applicable in the order.� In determining the rate payable, the traveler is allowed a rate equal to the normal cost of food and lodgings in the available facilities plus $3.50 for incidental expenses or the incidental rate in Appendix B, when the order-issuing official determines $3.50 to be inadequate for anticipated expenses.� The sum of these items is rounded to the next higher dollar. | 
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| | D. TDYPerformed in Support of Military Units While on Field Duty. | 
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| | No per diem is payable to civilian employees under civilian travel orders who, as part of their assigned duties, accompany military units on field duty, or provide noncombatant support to the military unit.� See Appendix A for the definition of field duty.� The prohibition on payment of per diem applies when both Government mess, including field rations (even though the employee is assessed a charge for that meal(s)) and Government-provided billeting are available (nontransient barracks or tents).� An employee on field duty will be required to pay the discounted meal rate for any meal(s) consumed in a Government mess (including field rations).� The prohibition on payment of per diem doesn't preclude reimbursement for any charges incurred for meals or for reimbursement for any cost of quarters necessarily procured during the TDY assignment. | 
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| | C4555� RULES CONCERNING LODGING AND LODGING COST | 
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| | A.�Lodging Location Rules | 
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| | 1.� Lodging at TDY Location. | 
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| | It is presumed the employee shall obtain lodging at the TDY location.� However, if the employee obtains lodging away from or outside the TDY location because of personal preference or convenience, the allowable per diem shall be limited to the maximum per diem rate prescribed for the TDY location. | 
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| | 2.� Lodging Not Available at TDY Location. | 
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| | In certain circumstances, lodging accommodations may not be available at the TDY location and the employee must obtain lodging in an adjacent locality where the prescribed maximum per diem rate is higher than the maximum per diem rate for the location of the TDY point.� In such instances, the DOD component may make an administrative determination on an individual case basis to authorize/approve the higher maximum per diem rate.� If the higher maximum rate isn't justified and authorized in advance, the employee must furnish a statement with the travel voucher satisfactorily explaining the circumstances that caused him/her to obtain lodging in an area other than the TDY point designated in the travel authorization. | 
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| | B.�Allowable Lodging Expenses. | 
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| | The traveler is reimbursed only for actual cost of lodging up to the maximum amount prescribed in Appendix B or D for the locality concerned.� Expenses for lodging in the situations described in subpars. 1 through 4 are allowed as indicated. | 
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| | 1.� Conventional Lodging. | 
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| | When an employee uses conventional lodging facilities (hotels, motels, boarding houses, etc.), the allowable lodging expense is based on the single room rate for the lodging used (for double occupancy, see subpar. Il).� (See subpar. G for computing daily lodging expense when lodging is rented on a weekly or monthly basis.) | 
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| | 2.� Government Quarters. | 
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| | A fee or service charge paid for the use of Government quarters is an allowable lodging expense. | 
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| | 3.� Lodging With Friends or Relatives. | 
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| | When the employee obtains lodging from friends or relatives (including members of the immediate family) with or without charge, the cost for lodging, for the purpose of computing per diem, is zero. | 
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| | 4.� Lodging in Nonconventional Facilities. | 
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| | When no conventional� lodging� facilities� are� present (e.g.,� in� remote� areas)� or� when there is a shortage of rooms because of an influx of attendees at special events (e.g., world fairs or international sports events), cost of lodging obtained in nonconventional facilities may be allowed.� Such facilities may include college dormitories or similar facilities and rooms generally not offered commercially that are made available to the public by area residents in their homes.� In such cases, the traveler must provide an explanation or the circumstances which is acceptable to the DOD component. | 
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| | C.�Lodging Obtained After Midnight. | 
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| | Although per diem generally is based on the employee's location at midnight, there are instances in which he/she is en route and doesn't� arrive at the lodging location (either TDY location or en route stopover point) until after midnight.� In such cases, the lodging shall be claimed for the preceding calendar day and the applicable maximum per diem for the preceding day is determined as if the employee had been at the lodging location at 2400 midnight of that day. | 
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| | D.�Allowable Expenses When an Apartment, House, or Recreational Vehicle Is Rented or Used for Quarters. | 
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