Federal Council Minutes
January - 1996

Minutes of the Federal Council Meeting January 24, 1996
Attendees-

Scarlet Evans, DOJ
Charles Hill, DOC
Noreen Toy-Sneddon, DOS
Michael DeLaudre, DOS
Wanda Moore, FAA
Bruce Card, Treasury
Andrew DeChat, FAA
Ann Tinker, FBI
Rose Williams, DOT
Peggy Kersello, NIH
Willie McCurdy, DOI
Joe Androsko. DEA
William Bardwell, VA
Mathis Gardner, GSA
Robert Logan, DEA
William Kiley, USDA
Rosemary Cummings, NIH
Howard Globalman, DOT
Bill Hobson, GSA
Carla Young, GSA
Judy Schroyer, GSA
Sam Skare, GSA

The meeting was called to order by Carla Young, Centralized Household Goods Traffic Management Program, General Services Administration, Kansas City, Missouri. It was announced that Judy Schroyer and Carla Young will begin conducting the quarterly meetings. Mrs. Schroyer will be working with the domestic issues and Ms. Young will be working with the international issues.

1. Packaging Presentation.
A presentation was given by Robert Lewis, Sealed Air Corporation, on their new protective packaging material ventilated foam. Mr. Lewis requested the opportunity to present the product with the intent of having language included in the Tender of Service to cover the packing material. Michael DeLauder, DOS, advised that he had a meeting scheduled with Hilldrup Transportation and Storage, and one of the topics, including a demonstration, would be the new packing material. Mr. DeLauder stated he would get back with GSA on his findings. In the meantime, any comments to changing the language in the TOS to include ventilated foam should be submitted to GSA with discussion at the next council meeting. 

2. Domestic Tender of Service.
GSA advised the Council members of the current reissue of the GSA Domestic Tender of Service. Council members were reminded of the changes incorporated in this issue which include the $85 shipment charge to be replaced by a reference to Item 57 of the Government Rate Tender 1-W and of formatting changes of the AIC code to four digits for submission of claims and shipment reports . A future Domestic Tender of Service is forthcoming, and may be issued in conjunction with the International Tender of Service. Additions or changes will be incorporated in the upcoming issue of the Domestic Tender of Service. Any comments/suggestions of changes to be made in the future should be submitted to the Program Management Office by February 20, 1996. 

3. Domestic Request For Offers.
A summary of a study of the comparison of rate discounts filed for the general Request for Offers and the U. S. Customs Request For Offers was distributed to the Council members. GSA reported that 28 carriers filed rates for Customs Service shipments. The average discount for Customs Service shipments was 5.64% less than the average discount for domestic shipments under the general program. In the offshore area, the average Customs discount was 3.39% less than for the general program. Intrastate bids average 4.14% less for Customs than the general rates. 

4. Special services.
GSA addressed the possibility of special services such as those solicited for the U. S. Customs Service being added to the upcoming 1996-97 Domestic Request For Offers. Requests for special services should be addressed in writing to Judy Schroyer of the Program Management Office by February 29, 1996. 

5. CHRIS Bulletin Board.
GSA discussed it's intentions to eliminate the CHRIS bulletin board system within a six month timeframe. A World Wide Web site is currently being constructed. The address for the new Web site is http://www.kc.gsa.gov/fsstt/. 

6. International Tender of Service Changes.
GSA advised there would be a change to provisions regarding the GSA Shipment Surcharge ($85.00). Charge would reference Item 57 of the GRT and not a specific dollar amount. GSA requested comments for combining both TOS's. GSA was looking at possible 3-sections; general when provisions would apply to both domestic and international household good shipments, and sections for both domestic and international which would be specific to that type of shipment. Consensus was that there wouldn't be a problem so GSA will begin a feasibility study. 

7. Restructuring of Off-shore to International.
GSA requested comments on whether to move the off-shore (Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Alaska) under the International program. Question: does it make better since relative to CSI's? 

8. Printing of international rates.
GSA distributed a notice to the carrier trade associations and approved international carriers to receive a printed copy of the rates for $125.00. Distribution will be approximately 2/1/96. 

9. International Performance Indexes (PI) effective October 1, 1996.
GSA will do the same as in 1995. Council will be receiving a notice to rate service provided and how the move was managed. The Council was asked if they wanted to include again claim and billing information. GSA advised that they were unable to use information provided last year on billing, Council agreed that they wanted to continue to submit information relative to claims, but not billing. GSA also advised that we had received a few GSA Form 3080's on international shipments and we would be using these ratings also. 

10. Registered International Mover's (RIM) Certification.
Bill Hobson addressed Council on his staff reviewing the RIM Certification and that he would discuss at a later date. 

11. International cost comparison format.
Council was asked if the current format met their agency needs. Advise GSA of any changes. 

12. Carrier affiliation.
Bill Hobson addressed the affiliation provisions and lead a discussion about the need to review those provisions in light of the changing conditions in the marketplace.