TDY Lodging at/below Per Diem?
FEDROOMS (formerly Federal Premier Lodging Program) FAQs
UPDATED: 5-NOV-2009

Q1 - As a frequent Government traveler TDY to CONUS locations, I sometimes have trouble finding commercial lodging at or below the per diem rate. I've heard that there is a program that guarantees commercial lodging within the prescribed lodging allowance. Does such a program really exist?

A1 - Yes - there really is such a program. In fact there are several. At least two Services (Army & Navy) have commercial lodging programs. These Services have arranged for commercial rooms at/below per diem near Army/Navy installations. These programs (Army’s Lodging Success Program and Navy’s ‘Navy Elite’ program) should be checked through CTOs/TMCs or as directed by those Services. In addition, FedRooms, formerly known as The Federal Premier Lodging Program, is GSA’s Government-wide lodging program and is FEMA compliant for safety issues (see FTR Part 301-50.6). The program under the General Services Administration (GSA) offers commercial lodging at/below per diem and provides direct lodging access through the FedRooms official website, http://www.fedrooms.com.

Q2 - Why the FedRooms Program?

A2 - The Government spends billions a year with the lodging industry. FedRooms consolidates the Government's buying power in the commercial marketplace and leverages it to provide consistent, good quality, cost-effective lodging to federal travelers.

Q3 - What is the FedRooms Program?

A3 - The FedRooms Program is built on the concept of contracting with lodging properties. Through FedRooms, the Government contracts with participating lodging properties to ensure that federal travelers are guaranteed a room at an established price. FedRooms is a way for federal travelers to be assured of a room at a reasonable rate.

Q4 - How will FedRooms help me get a room at or below the prevailing per diem rate?

A4 - FedRooms results in more available guaranteed-price lodgings at negotiated discounted rates because of the Government buying power. If FedRooms rates or lodging is not available in the travel system, contact the CTO/TMC for assistance.

Q5 - What kind of lodging facilities are we talking about? Are they safe and clean?

A5  According to GSA the FedRooms contracted properties are good quality commercial lodgings at economical rates - and they are geographically convenient to many federal business travelers. GSA established a diverse range of criteria to use in considering prospective properties. The quality factors include - the facility, management and operation of the facility, and facility location. Other important factors considered in selecting FedRooms properties:

• FedRooms properties comply with building code standards for persons with physical disabilities established by the Americans with Disability Act.
• Contract properties must be listed with the Federal Emergency Management Agency list certifying that the property is in full compliance with the Hotel and Motel Fire and Safety Act of 1990.
• FedRooms properties have established corporate quality assurance programs.
• Properties meet all safety and security requirements detailed in the FedRooms contract.
• Visits by an Evaluation Panel to prospective properties validate the information provided by the property and ensure that the property can perform and operate in compliance with the contract requirements.
• Pricing - only after all of the above is ratified, is pricing considered. The first objective is good quality properties for travelers.

Q6 - Where are the FedRooms locations?

A6 - There are participating vendors available in all 50 states, Germany, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom. Refer to http://www.fedrooms.com for more information.

Q7 -Who is eligible to use FedRooms properties? If so, when?

A7 – FedRooms rates are for Government employees and uniformed personnel on official (PCS and TDY) business travel. Contact the CTO/TMC and ask the FedRooms rate under the booking code “XVU (Xtra Value for yoU)” www.fedroomssearch.com for participating properties. Government contractors, retired civilian employees/uniformed personnel, and current civilian employees/members on personal leave are only eligible for FedRooms rates if the participating property approves. FedRooms properties may make case-by-case decisions on whether or not to offer FedRooms rates and rooms to the above group of travelers.

Q8 - What if I go TDY to a locality where there are no FedRooms properties and/or a location at which the lodging rate is higher than the per diem allowance? Am I just out-of-pocket because the property is not under contract?

A8 - For uniformed members see the Joint Federal Travel Regulations, Volume 1 (JFTR), Chapter 4, Part C on this website (located under the Travel Regulations banner) for the information needed to request approval for TDY lodging expenses that are more than the prescribed rates. For DoD civilian employees see the Joint Travel Regulations, Volume 2 (JTR), Chapter 4, Part C (under the same banner) for information.

Q9 - How would I reserve one of the FedRooms contracted properties?

A9 - Federal travelers should use their agencies CTO/TMC to reserve lodging accommodations when available. If government travel agencies are not available, other options are: http://www.fedroomssearch.com for participating vendors; call the FedRooms Help Desk for assistance, 1-800- 226-1741 (email address is hotels@fedrooms.com); or by directly contacting the contracted property. BUT REMEMBER!! Travelers should use their agencies' CTOs/TMCs to complete these reservations, if applicable.