WASHINGTON –
Department of Defense officials announced the selection of Citibank to provide travel charge card services for its members under the General Services Administration's umbrella SmartPay® 2 master contract recently.
The new official travel cards will be activated Nov. 30. DOD currently has 1.2 million card holders who accounted for 61 percent of total government-wide travel spending in 2006.
Team Charleston cardholders can expect to receive their new cards before Oct. 31, said Larry Wallace, 437th Airlift Wing government travel card agency program coordinator.
"All cardholders can help by making sure their personal information is up to date in [the Electronic Account Government Ledger System]," he said.
Unit GTC agency program coordinators can update information in EAGLS and can also provide access so individuals can update their own information.
The estimated value of the DOD travel card task order during a 10-year period is $40 billion, based on projected travel card spending.
The mandatory travel charge card provides travelers with many benefits such as no interest charges, delayed late fees and insurance benefits.
The Defense Travel Management Office was established in 2006 to serve as the focal point of contact for commercial travel within the DOD. The DTMO establishes strategic direction and centrally manages commercial travel programs, including the travel card program.
The DTMO will work closely with the current vendor, Bank of America and Citibank to minimize any unforeseen interruption in travel card services leading up to the new card activation. Prior to the cut over, card holders will receive frequent communications about what to expect and individual requirements.