Additional information on reimbursements for volunteers:
Volunteers are considered to be “non‐local” if their home is not within the commuting area of the duty station, and they cannot return home at night.
The Forest Service may provide no‐cost housing to volunteers, if available; examples are a bunkhouse, or RV space. Lodging expense is not incurred in this case and may not be claimed or reimbursed. If such housing includes cooking facilities, full per diem rate is not appropriate. Actual subsistence can be claimed (receipts required) or “field per diem” can be authorized.
Field per diem for a locality is determined by the Forest Service unit. Typically the rate is 55% of the GSA per diem rate for that locality; a different rate determination must be based on the typical local cost of meals and incidentals.
Field per diem for non‐local volunteers at their assigned duty station can be reimbursed via the Volunteer Reimbursement Request process at Albuquerque Service Center.
http://fsweb.asc.fs.fed.us/bfm/programs/financial‐operations/payments/miscellaneous/
To reimburse volunteers for official overnight travel (with lodging incurred) to or away from their duty station or home, the GovTrip process of authorization and claims must be used; the first step is to put the volunteer into the GovTrip system as an invitational traveler. Please see this web page for information and instructions:
Such instances of invitational travel would include:
http://fsweb.asc.fs.fed.us/bfm/programs/financial‐operations/travel/GovTrip/GovTrip_000.php
All intended reimbursements must be documented on the Volunteer Agreement. All Volunteer Agreements must be signed by the unit line officer or their officially designated acting.
For more information on reimbursing expenses for local, non‐local, or volunteers in travel status, please see the websites above or contact ASC Help at 1‐877‐372‐7248.