United States Department of Agriculture
Research, Education, and Economics
ARS * CSREES * ERS * NASS
Policies and Procedures
Title: | Foreign Gifts and Decorations |
Number: | 468.4 |
Date: | June 11, 2003 |
Originating Office: | Human Resources Division, Employee Relations Branch, AFM/ARS |
This Replaces: | 468.4 dated 11/18/99 |
Distribution: | REE Headquarters, Areas, and Field Locations |
This P&P contains revised information and step-by-step procedures for the receipt, retention, or disposal of foreign gifts and decorations. Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act minimal value has been increased from $260 to $285, retroactively to January 1, 2002. |
Table of Contents
1. References
2. Authorities
3. Policy
4. Acceptance of Gifts and Decorations
Gift Acceptance
Decoration Acceptance
5. Procedures
Acceptance of Foreign Gifts Other
Than Travel or Travel Expenses
Acceptance of Foreign Decorations
6. Summary of Responsibilities
7. Glossary
REE expects all employees to comply with the provisions of the Foreign Gifts and
Decorations Act of 1966, as amended, and the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees
of the Executive Branch.
Employees may accept a gift of:
Employees may accept, retain, and wear foreign decorations presented in recognition of
active field service in time of combat operations or awarded for other outstanding or
unusually meritorious performance, after receiving their Agency Administrator's approval
and the concurrence of the Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
Without this approval, the decoration becomes the property of the United States and
must be turned over to the Area Property Management Officer/Property Management Officer
(APMO/PMO) who forwards it to the Department's Procurement and Property Management Branch
located in the Property Management Division.
The following chart reflects the procedures required for the acceptance of foreign gifts
and foreign decorations.
Acceptance of Foreign Gifts Other Than
Travel or Travel Expenses
Responsible Person | Action |
---|---|
Recipient | Within 60 days of
receipt of a foreign gift, notify your Location Administrative Officer (LAO) or your PMO
and the Employee Relations Branch (ERB) within the Human Resources Division (HRD) with the
following information:
Special notes:
|
APMO/PMO | After receiving an
employee's notice of gift receipt, the APMO/PMO shall:
|
ERB, HRD | Immediately upon receipt
of the recipient's report, the ERB Branch Chief will advise the recipient and the APMO/PMO
of any conflict of interest implications. |
Acceptance of Foreign Decorations
Responsible Person | Action |
---|---|
Recipient | Immediately after
receiving notification that a decoration is to be presented, the recipient must notify ERB
and the APMO/PMO and provide the following information:
|
ERB, HRD | After receiving the
above information, ERB must request the Agency Administrator's approval and concurrence
from the Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), and notify the recipient of
the final determination. Note: If retention by the recipient is
refused, the recipient must give the decoration to the APMO/PMO within 60 days of notice. |
APMO/PMO | Dispose of refused decorations through proper procedures. |
Each Agency Administrator or his/her designee will:
Headquarters PMO, PPD, and APMOs will:
Chief, ERB, Human Resources Division, will:
Recipients of gifts and/or decorations will:
APMO. Area Property Management Officer.
CFR. Code of Federal Regulations.
Decoration. An order, device, medal, badge, insignia, emblem, or award presented by or received from a foreign government.
Employee. All REE employees, experts, or consultants under contract with the United States, their spouses, and blood in-law relations who are residents of the employee's household.
Foreign Government. Any unit of foreign governmental authority, including any foreign national, State, local, and municipal government. Any international or multinational organization whose membership is composed of any unit of foreign government; and any agency or representative of any such unit or organization.
Gift. A souvenir, mark of courtesy, or award (other than a decoration) presented by, or received from, a foreign government.
GSA. General Services Administration.
LAO. Location Administrative Officer.
Minimal value. Retail value in the United States at the time of acceptance as set by GSA.
PMO. Property Management Officer.
USC. United States Code.
-/Sd/-
JAMES H. BRADLEY
Deputy Administrator
Administrative and Financial Management