United States Department of Agriculture
Research, Education and Economics

ARS * CSREES * ERS * NASS

Bulletin

Parking at the Portals Complex

AFM has reserved two parking spaces in the Portals Complex for REE employees. Reservations are on a first call basis and, like the Government vehicles, are available to all employees conducting official Government business. The availability of Portals parking is in addition to the two parking spaces available in Court 2, South Building.

We have reserved the spaces through September 30, 2000. During this period, we will evaluate the need, feasibility, and logistics to determine if the space rental will be renewed and how to best accommodate employees conducting official Government business at the Downtown complex.

The Portals Complex has a 4-level parking garage. The parking levels are marked P1 through P4 and spaces are individually numbered. Employees can park on any level and in any space that is available, except spaces marked “Reserved.” The garage is off the Maryland Avenue entrance. Turn left at the sign for “Public Parking” and the garage is to the right. (The Federal Communications Commission controls the garage to the left.)

There are two access points at the garage entrance and one exit point. When using the AFM parking spaces, employees will use the access point for “permit holders, ” not for daily parking. To enter and exit, employees will slide the parking key card in the appropriate slot to activate the automated gate.

There is only one key card for each space. Employees are responsible for returning the key card to Procurement & Property Division (PPD) before the end of the day or by 7:00 am the following morning. This is to ensure that the space will be available for the next day. There is a $20.00 fee to replace lost/stolen cards.

Inside the Parking Garage

Again, employees can park on any level and in any space that is available, except spaces marked “Reserved.” From the garage, employees will use the “South” elevators to enter the building. After entering the building the elevators are to the right. Elevators from the garage only go up to the lobby. Employees will take the elevator to the lobby/first floor and exit. Walk to the right through the double doors and the main elevators are to the right. However, there are two sets of elevators on P2. Employees can either go through the glass doors to the main elevator or use the elevators to the far right and go to the lobby. From the lobby walk through the glass doors on the right and the main elevators are to the right.

The doors from the garage are locked before 7:00 a.m., after 6:00 p.m., and on weekends. Employees arriving during these hours can only enter the building with a pre-issued building keycard. Between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday), employees do not need a key card to enter the building.

Parking/Vehicle Reservations

Beltsville Employees

To reserve a parking space for the South/Portals Building or to reserve a Government vehicle, please call Renee Utt on 504-1745. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance of the need. Employees will pick up key cards, parking permits, and keys from Renee in Room 3-2122, GWCC. If Renee is not available, employees must call the Procurement and Property Branch on 301-504-1749 for assistance. Permits and keys must be returned to Renee by 7:00 am the following morning.

Downtown Employees.

• Parking. To reserve a parking space for the South Building, please call Joyce Cooper, Space Management Team, FD on 720-7556. Joyce is in Rm. 1470-South Building.
  
  
• Vehicles. To reserve a Government vehicle, please call Ami Thomas on 720-7254. Employees may pick up keys from Ami in Room 522-Portals Building. If Ami is not available, employees must call the Procurement and Property Branch on 202-720-7681 for assistance.
  

Use of Government Vehicles

When reserving a Government vehicle:

• it may only be used to conduct official Government business,
  
  
• operators must possess a valid State or District of Columbia drivers' license and carry the license in their possession,
  
  
• smoking, eating, and drinking are prohibited,
  
  
• all passengers must wear seat belts,
  
  
• operators must complete the vehicle log,
  
  
• operator is responsible for returning vehicle in clean condition, removing all personal belongings, etc.

Note: Not following these rules, including the re-fueling policy below, could result in losing the privilege of using the Government vehicles/parking.

Re-Fueling

The vehicle operator of the Government vehicle is responsible for refueling the vehicle when the fuel tank is less than ½ full. The gasoline credit card is kept inside the key pouch and instructions for using the card are inside the vehicle. Operators can use the fleet credit card at either “pay at the pump” stations or where the station attendant swipes the card. For each transaction, the operator must:

• enter an access code, and
  
• enter the vehicle's current odometer reading.

Access Code. The access code is the last 4-digits of the Vehicle Card Number, which is embossed on the front of the credit card. For example, if the Vehicle Card Number is 102301, then the access code is 2301. On electronic “pay at the pump” transactions, key in the access code and odometer reading. For manual transactions, write this information on the transaction ticket or key it in on the station attendant's portable keypad.

Questions

If you have any questions, please call either Renee Utt on 504-1745 or Cheryl Brumback on
720-2359.

/s/ Anne Riordan
for
Richard G. Irwin
Director
Procurement and Property Division