1

Contractor Travel Reimbursement Guidelines

January 2019

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Contractor should have a policy that requires its employees to use sound business 

judgment in both determining the need for travel, as well as in expending Contractor financial

resources when travel is necessary. The following guidelines are provided to assist the 

Contractor in its compliance with contractual requirements to limit expense reimbursement to 

those costs that do not exceed FDIC travel reimbursement guidelines. Travelers will not be 

reimbursed for excess costs caused by:

• An indirect route as a matter of personal preference

• Premature departure for personal reasons from a temporary location; or

• Extending a stay for personal reasons.

2.0 APPLICABILITY

To be entitled to Lodgings-Plus per diem reimbursement, the contract must allow for travel and 

the Contractor’s employee must be on a temporary assignment that is at least 50 miles in 

distance from either his/her office or residence. If a temporary assignment concludes during the 

workday and is located within 100 miles of the Contractor’s employee’s official station or 

residence, the Contractor’s employee is expected to return to their residence, rather than 

remain at the temporary location overnight. The cost of travel for spouses, other family 

members, and friends is not reimbursable under any circumstances.

3.0 TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION

Contractors shall ensure that all travel on behalf of the FDIC is necessary and allowable under 

the contract. A management official of the Contractor shall authorize all travel and travel 

vouchers reflecting travel expenditures. 

4.0 AIR TRAVEL

Air travel should be in coach class only, unless the contractor’s employee bears the cost of the 

difference between coach and first class. Travel should be planned as far in advance as 

possible to take advantage of discounted fares; especially if reasonable certainty exists that the 

event will take place. If more than one air carrier offers service, travel should be on the carrier 

that offers the lowest price. If a restricted fare is booked and the Contractor’s employee requires 

a change, a reasonable exchange fee may be claimed. Contractor’s employees are required to 

fly on U.S. flag carrier service under the Fly America Act, 49 USC Section 40118, which 

requires employees, consultants, contractors and any other persons traveling for the federal 

government outside the United States via commercial air to travel by U.S. flag air carriers, 

unless an exception to the Act applies. For additional information, refer to the Federal Travel 

Regulations and/or Comptroller General Decision B-138942, March 31, 1981. 

5.0 RENTAL CARS

Generally, no car larger than a mid-size should be rented. The Contractor should have a policy 

that requires employees to compare the cost of car rental with other forms of transportation and 

to choose the cheaper mode of transportation. The use of rental cars, even if authorized, must 

be justified in writing by the traveler and attached to the voucher. Claims for rental car gasoline 

must be supported by original receipts. 

6.0 LODGING

The Contractor is expected to have a policy that provides for reasonable but not extravagant 

lodging accommodations for employees in travel status. The Contractor should make use of 

government rates whenever possible; otherwise, corporate rates or other discounts should be 

obtained.
2

If the contract is a level of effort type of contract (e.g. labor hour or time and materials) 

with reimbursable travel, and the contractor must be in the Washington, DC , area 

overnight, the contractor is required to stay at the L. William Seidman Center (Seidman 

Center) providing space is available. The contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer of 

the need for a reservation, and the Contracting Officer shall contact the Seidman Center 

to make the reservation. If space is not available, the Seidman Center management will 

obtain an alternate reservation, or provide permission for contractor to obtain alternate 

lodging. For reimbursement, the contractor must provide written evidence of lack of 

availability at the Seidman Center at the time of submission of travel voucher.

Any hotel expenses considered excessive or unreasonable will not be reimbursed. Instead, in 

those cases, lodging reimbursement will be limited to the GSA lodging rate for the location in 

question:

http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21287

7.0 SUBSISTENCE

Employees on overnight travel status shall be reimbursed on a per diem basis. Specific per 

diem rates for different localities may be found at the General Services Administration web site, 

the specific citation for which is as follows: 

http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21287

Per diem is not intended to fully cover these expenses. 

8.0 SPECIAL MEAL ALLOWANCE FOR TRAVEL OF LESS THAN 24 HOURS WHEN THERE IS 

NO LODGING

Employees in non-overnight travel status, who are away from their residence at least 11 

consecutive hours excluding meal time (12 hours if on an alternate work schedule), in travel 

status at least 3 hours beyond their regularly scheduled workday, the meal is eaten at the work 

site or a restaurant near the work station, and the meal is specifically authorized, should be 

reimbursed on an actual expense basis with the meal cost limited to a $10.00 charge (receipt 

required) or up to $6.00 without a receipt. According to the IRS regulations, the Contractor must 

report this expense as income. 

9.0 MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES

While in travel status, an employee may claim the actual amount incurred, not to exceed $3 per 

day, for personal long-distance telephone calls while on an overnight travel assignment. This is 

in addition to per diem, if applicable. 

10.0 USE OF PERSONAL OWNED VEHICLE

The Contractor may reimburse an employee for use of his/her personal vehicle while on 

Contractor related business. The maximum reimbursement rate will be the rate stipulated by the 

IRS. http://fdic01/division/dof/travel/regulartravel/appendices/apndx_E.html

If an employee chooses to use his/her own vehicle in lieu of air travel, the maximum 

reimbursement will be the lesser of the cost of air travel or mileage reimbursement and the per 

diem difference.

NOTE: FDIC does not insure contractors, their employees, or their vehicles for liability. 

11.0 TAXICABS

The use of taxicabs is permitted while Contractors are on official travel for FDIC. Taxi hire is 

appropriate when:

a. public transportation, airport limousine service, and/or hotel courtesy transportation is 
3

not available or when time or other factors make it impractical to use available public 

conveyances;

b. traveling between transportation terminals and the residence, hotel, or office while in an 

official travel status; or

c. for travel from the Contractor’s residence to the official station to depart on an 

assignment requiring at least one night’s lodging, and from the official station to the 

residence on the day the employee returns from the trip.

Taxi fares for trips used to obtain meals will not be reimbursed.

Reimbursement for taxicab fares (plus the customary 15% tip) will be made only if an 

appropriate receipt is submitted with the voucher. 

12.0 NON-REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES

Examples of expenses that will not be reimbursed include the following:

a. alcoholic beverages, entertainment;

b. laundry, dry cleaning and pressing of clothing; 

c. travel insurance;

d. parking fines;

e. charges incurred because of indirect travel for personal reasons;

f. gratuities and tips paid to porters, waiters, bellboys, and hotel maids inside the lodging 

facility (included in the per diem reimbursement)

g. nonproductive time related to official travel to and from one’s temporary duty station; 

and

h. any charges, fees, or other associated costs related to the making of reservations or 

other accommodations for travel.

13.0 RECEIPTS

Except for per diem expenses, valid original receipts are required for all expenditures regardless 

of cost. If a receipt is not normally provided for the expense (metro, bus token, etc.), the 

certification signed by the traveler on the voucher will justify the expense. Receipts submitted 

with the voucher should indicate the name of the payee, date, amount, and the service 

rendered.

14.0 TRAVEL VOUCHER COMPLETION

After completion of travel, the contractor’s travel voucher must be submitted for reimbursement. 

In addition, dates and times of each departure from residence or office, arrival at and the name 

of the place of temporary assignment, and arrival at the office or residence must be shown on 

the travel voucher. A certification signed by the traveler must be included on the travel voucher 

that states that the trip indicated was actually taken and that all expenses are accurate and 

correct. 

15.0 INVOICES

Contractors billing for reimbursement of travel expenses must submit an original and two (2) 

duplicates of each invoice to include all supporting documents.

The penalty for invoicing a travel voucher that falsifies any item in the claim forfeits the claim (28 

U.S.C. 2514) Further, travelers who falsify a claim may be fined or imprisoned for not more than 

5 years or both (18 U.S.C. Section 1001), and a corporation may be fined up to a maximum of 

$500,000 (18 U.S.C. Section 3571(c)). 
4

16.0 PER DIEM FOR OVERNIGHT TRAVEL

AMOUNT OF PER DIEM TO BE CLAIMED:

DEPARTING: Use assignment 

location with per diem rate of: $55.00 $56.00 $61.00 $66.00 $71.00 $76.00

If you leave between:

12 Midnight to 5:59 AM 

$55.00 $56.00 $61.00 $66.00 $71.00 $76.00

6:00 AM to 11:59 AM $41.25 $42.00 $45.75 $49.50 $53.25 $57.00

12 Noon to 5:59 PM $27.50 $28.00 $30.50 $33.00 $35.50 $38.00

6:00 PM to 11:59 PM $13.75 $14.00 $15.25 $16.50 $17.75 $19.00

RETURNING: Use assignment 

location with per diem rate of $55.00 $56.00 $61.00 $66.00 $71.00 $76.00

If you return between:

12 Midnight to 5:59 AM

$13.75 $14.00 $15.25 $16.50 $17.75 $19.00

6:00 AM to 11:59 AM $27.50 $28.00 $30.50 $33.00 $35.50 $38.00

12 Noon to 5:59 PM $41.25 $42.00 $45.75 $49.50 $53.25 $57.00

6:00 PM to 11:59 PM $55.00 $56.00 $61.00 $66.00 $71.00 $76.00

17.0 MEAL DEDUCTIONS

If meals are provided by another person or entity, the following amounts shall be deducted from 

per diem rates:

PROVIDED MEALS DEDUCTIBLE FROM MAXIMUM PER DIEM RATES*

MAXIMUM PER DIEM RATES: $55.00 $56.00 $61.00 $66.00 $71.00 $76.00

BREAKFAST $13 $13 $14 $16 $17 $18

LUNCH $14 $15 $16 $17 $18 $19

DINNER $23 $23 $26 $28 $31 $34

INCIDENTALS $5 $5 $5 $5 $5 $5

*For those destinations that are not listed, the maximum hotel expense shall be $94.00 per day 

and the maximum per diem rate shall be $55.00. 

18.0 MILEAGE RATE FOR USE OF PERSONAL VEHICLE

Effective January 1, 2019, the mileage rate allowed for use of a personal vehicle on business is 

58 cents per mile. 

http://fdic01/division/dof/travel/regulartravel/appendices/apndx_E.html