| 2 CFR § 200.475 – Travel costs |
| (a) General. Travel costs are the expenses for transportation, lodging, subsistence, and related items incurred by employees who are in travel status on official business of the non-Federal entity. Such costs may be charged on an actual cost basis, on a per diem or mileage basis in lieu of actual costs incurred, or on a combination of the two, provided the method used is applied to an entire trip and not to selected days of the trip, and results in charges consistent with those normally allowed in like circumstances in the non-Federal entity’s non-federally-funded activities and in accordance with non-Federal entity’s written travel reimbursement policies. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 200.444, travel costs of officials covered by that section are allowable with the prior written approval of the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity when they are specifically related to the Federal award. (b) Lodging and subsistence. Costs incurred by employees and officers for travel, including costs of lodging, other subsistence, and incidental expenses, must be considered reasonable and otherwise allowable only to the extent such costs do not exceed charges normally allowed by the non-Federal entity in its regular operations as the result of the non-Federal entity’s written travel policy. In addition, if these costs are charged directly to the Federal award documentation must justify that: (1) Participation of the individual is necessary to the Federal award; and (2) The costs are reasonable and consistent with non-Federal entity’s established travel policy. (c) (1) Temporary dependent care costs (as dependent is defined in 26 U.S.C. 152) above and beyond regular dependent care that directly results from travel to conferences is allowable provided that: (i) The costs are a direct result of the individual’s travel for the Federal award; (ii) The costs are consistent with the non-Federal entity’s documented travel policy for all entity travel; and (iii) Are only temporary during the travel period. (2) Travel costs for dependents are unallowable, except for travel of duration of six months or more with prior approval of the Federal awarding agency. See also § 200.432. (d) In the absence of an acceptable, written non-Federal entity policy regarding travel costs, the rates and amounts established under 5 U.S.C. 5701-11, (“Travel and Subsistence Expenses; Mileage Allowances”), or by the Administrator of General Services, or by the President (or his or her designee) pursuant to any provisions of such subchapter must apply to travel under Federal awards (48 CFR 31.205-46(a)). (e) Commercial air travel. (1) Airfare costs in excess of the basic least expensive unrestricted accommodations class offered by commercial airlines are unallowable except when such accommodations would: (i) Require circuitous routing; (ii) Require travel during unreasonable hours; (iii) Excessively prolong travel; (iv) Result in additional costs that would offset the transportation savings; or (v) Offer accommodations not reasonably adequate for the traveler’s medical needs. The non-Federal entity must justify and document these conditions on a case-by-case basis in order for the use of first-class or business-class airfare to be allowable in such cases. (2) Unless a pattern of avoidance is detected, the Federal Government will generally not question a non-Federal entity’s determinations that customary standard airfare or other discount airfare is unavailable for specific trips if the non-Federal entity can demonstrate that such airfare was not available in the specific case. (f) Air travel by other than commercial carrier. Costs of travel by non-Federal entity-owned, -leased, or -chartered aircraft include the cost of lease, charter, operation (including personnel costs), maintenance, depreciation, insurance, and other related costs. The portion of such costs that exceeds the cost of airfare as provided for in paragraph (d) of this section, is unallowable. |
Travel on grant funded programs is subject to the same rules, regulations, and policies applicable to travel by all employees of the College, as well as applicable policies and regulations of the funding agency. Grant funded personnel must ensure that any proposed travel is in accordance with the grant agreement before making travel arrangements. If the grant requires prior funder approval for travel, the Project Director is responsible for obtaining written authorization from the agency and for maintaining that documentation in the project files.
Travel costs are the expenses for transportation, lodging, subsistence, and related items incurred by employees who are in travel status on official business of a grant recipient. Travel costs may only be chargeable to a grant funded project if the trip is directly related and beneficial to the specific project funded. Travel reimbursements are generally limited to those allowed by College policies. Please see Santa Fe College Travel Manual at http://www.sfcollege.edu/finance/travel/travel-manual. Certain grants may contain provisions that further limit the amount and type of reimbursable travel expenditures. For federal awards, travel will be subject to conditions listed in 2 C.F.R. §200.475.
For federal awards, travel costs may be charged on an actual cost basis, on a per diem or mileage basis in lieu of actual costs incurred, or on a combination of the two, provided the method used is applied to an entire trip and not selected days of the trip, and results in charges consistent with those normally allowed in like circumstances in the recipient’s non-federally funded activities and in accordance with the College’s written travel reimbursement policies. 2 C.F.R §200.475(a).
Additionally, for federal awards, costs incurred by employees and officers for travel, including costs of lodging, other subsistence, and incidental expenses, must be considered reasonable and otherwise allowable only to the extent such costs do not exceed charges normally allowed by the College in its regular operations as the result of its written travel policy. In addition, if these costs are charged directly to the federal award, documentation must be maintained that justifies that (1) participation of the individual is necessary to the federal award; and (2) the costs are reasonable and consistent with the College’s established policy. 2 C.F.R §200.475(b).
International Travel on grant funded projects must be pre-approved by the Board of Trustees and by the funding agency. All federal and most other funders require prior written approval for each occurrence of foreign travel, even if previously approved in the award budget. The Project Director is responsible for obtaining the written travel authorization from the funder and air carrier must be documented and pre-approved by the Board of Trustees prior to booking the travel arrangements. The Project Director must maintain all documentation in the project files. Travelers should exercise caution and review the U.S. Department of State’s international travel advisory information (http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings.html) prior to making travel plans. Travel to U.S. Government listed State Sponsors of Terrorism is not permitted. A list of these countries can be found at http://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm.
In accordance with the Fly America Act (49 U.S.C. 40118), travelers are required to use U.S. air carrier service for all air travel when traveling on federal funds, even in instances where foreign carriers are cheaper, provide preferred routing, are more convenient, or are part of a frequent‐flyer agreement. Exceptions to this requirement can be found on the GSA’s website https://www.gsa.gov/policy- regulations/policy/travel-management-policy/fly-america. Any exemptions to the use of a U.S. air carrier must be documented and pre-approved by the Board of Trustees prior to booking the travel arrangements.
