ALLOWANCES FOR EXTENDED STORAGE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS (HHG)

• Citation: 41 CFR Part 302-8
• Sections: 11

§ 302-8.1 Authorization for extended storage of HHG.

(a) Extended storage of HHG may only be authorized under the following circumstances:

(1) An employee is assigned to an isolated duty station within CONUS and will be unable to use the household goods or personal effects (see subpart B of this part);

(2) An employee is assigned to an overseas official station where the agency limits the amount of HHG that may be transported to that location (see subpart C of this part);

(3) An employee is assigned to an OCONUS official station and the agency determines extended storage is in the public interest or cost effective to do so; or

(4) It is authorized by the agency in conjunction with a temporary change of station (TCS).

(b) Agencies will indicate on the travel authorization the specific allowances that are authorized as provided in this chapter.

(c) Employees may not receive an advance of funds for storage allowances covered by this part.

§ 302-8.100 Eligibility for extended storage of HHG during assignment to isolated locations in CONUS.

Extended storage of HHG belonging to an employee transferred or a new appointee assigned to an official station at an isolated location in CONUS may be allowed only when it is clearly justified under the conditions in this part and is not primarily for the convenience, or at the request of, the employee or the new appointee.

(a) As determined by the agency, an official station at an isolated location is a place of permanent or temporary duty assignment in CONUS at which employees have no alternative except to live where they are unable to use their HHG because:

(1) The type of quarters required to be occupied at the isolated official station will not accommodate the HHG; or

(2) Residence quarters which would accommodate the HHG are not available within reasonable daily commuting distance of the official station.

(b) The designation of an official station as isolated in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section shall not preclude a determination in individual instances that adequate housing is available for some employees stationed there based on housing which may be available within daily commuting distance and the size and other characteristics of each employee's immediate family. In such instances the station shall not be considered isolated with regard to those employees if the agency determines adequate family housing is available.

Note 1 to § 302-8.100:

Heads of agencies concerned are responsible for designating the isolated official station at which conditions exist for allowing extended storage of HHG at Government expense for some or all employees.

§ 302-8.101 Where HHG may be stored.

HHG may be stored either in:

(a) Available Government-owned storage space; or

(b) Suitable commercial storage space obtained by the Government if:

(1) Government-owned space is not available; or

(2) Commercial storage space is more economical or suitable because of location, transportation costs, or for other reasons.

§ 302-8.102 Allowable costs for storage.

Allowable costs for storage include the cost of:

(a) Necessary packing;

(b) Crating;

(c) Unpacking;

(d) Uncrating;

(e) Transportation to and from place of storage;

(f) Charges while in storage; and

(g) Other necessary charges directly relating to the storage as approved by the agency.

§ 302-8.103 Changes to the type of storage.

Employees may change from temporary to extended storage or from storage at personal expense to extended storage at Government expense, if authorized by their agency.

§ 302-8.104 Authorized time period for extended storage of employee's HHG.

The authorized time period for extended storage of an employee's HHG is for the duration of the assignment not to exceed 3-years. However:

(a) Agencies will conduct periodic reviews to determine whether current housing conditions at the isolated official station warrant continuation of storage;

(b) Eligibility for extended storage at Government expense will terminate on the last day of active duty at the isolated official station. However, the HHG may remain in temporary storage for an additional period of time not to exceed 90 days, if approved by the agency.

§ 302-8.200 Eligibility for extended storage during assignment OCONUS.

(a) Extended storage of HHG belonging to an employee transferred or a new appointee assigned to an official station outside the CONUS (OCONUS) may be allowed only when it is clearly justified under the conditions in this part and is not primarily for the convenience, or at the request of, the employee or the new appointee.

(b) An employee is eligible for extended storage for an assignment OCONUS if their agency authorizes it in compliance with the requirements in this paragraph (b):

(1) The official station is one to which the employee is not authorized to take, or at which they are unable to use, their HHG;

(2) The agency authorizes it as being in the public interest; or

(3) The agency determines the estimated cost of storage would be less than the cost of round-trip transportation (including temporary storage) of the HHG to the new official station.

(c) The same allowable extended storage expenses and other provisions provided in §§ 302-8.101 through 302-8.103 apply to extended storage OCONUS.

§ 302-8.201 Time limitations for extended storage of HHG.

Time limitations for extended storage of the HHG will be determined by the agency as follows:

(a) For the duration of the OCONUS assignment plus 30 days prior to the time the tour begins and plus 60 days after the tour is completed;

(b) Extensions may be allowed for subsequent service or tours of duty at the same or other overseas stations if the employee continues to be eligible as set forth in § 302-8.200; and

(c) When eligibility ceases, storage at Government expense may continue until the beginning of the second month after the month in which the tour at the official station OCONUS terminates, unless to avoid inequity the agency extends the period.

§ 302-8.300 Applicable authority.

(a) Description. The Department of Defense Overseas Teachers Pay and Personnel Practices Act (20 U.S.C. 905) provides authority for the storage of the HHG of DoDDS teachers during the recess period between 2 consecutive school years.

(b) Regulations. See the DoD Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), published by the Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee and available at https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/travelreg.cfm.

§ 302-8.301 Obligation to report for service at the beginning of the next school year.

If the DoDDS teacher does not report for service at the beginning of the next school year, they must repay the Government for the cost of the extended storage of their HHG during the recess. Except for reasons beyond their control and acceptable to DoD, the teacher shall be obligated to reimburse DoD the amount paid for the commercial storage, including related services. If, however, the property was stored in a Government facility, the teacher shall pay DoD an amount equal to the reasonable value of the storage furnished, including related services.

§ 302-8.400 Establishing policies for the allowance of extended storage of HHG.

(a) Agencies must establish policies and procedures governing this part including:

(1) When the agency will authorize payment;

(2) Who will determine whether payment is appropriate;

(3) How and when reimbursements will be paid;

(4) Which locations meet the criteria of this part for isolated official station at which conditions exist for allowing extended storage at Government expense for some or all employees; and

(5) Who will determine the duration and place of extended storage.

(b) Agencies should limit payment of extended storage of HHG to only those expenses that are necessary and in the interest of the Government.