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Employee Resources

General Employee Information:
• Axon (Intranet) • Benefits • Directories • Emergency • GOV-Fuel • Government Property • Health & Safety • Manuscripts / Projects • Pay & Leave • Policies • Purchasing • Training • Travel / Relocation • SharePoint • Visitors(Citizen/Non-Citizen)

Miscellaneous Information:
• Calendars • FAQ's • Images • Libraries • Property

Standard Operating Procedures for administrative procedures can be found at P:\Admin\SOPs

General Employee Information:

Benefits: Insurance and Retirement Programs Employee Personal Page
- Employee Handbook - everything you need to know about your federal pay and benefits
- Federal Employees Group Life Insurance(FEGLI)
- FEGLI Calculator- Calculate the premiums for the various combinations of coverage and more!
- FEGLI Forms
- Federal Employees Health (FEHB) Benefit Program
- Insurance Plan Search - You can create a comparison by zip code, plan name or plan code.
- Insurance Form SF 2809 Employees can enroll, change, or cancel their enrollment. (18 pgs, PDF) (Also see REE-FORMS)
- Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
- Retirement and Insurance Forms
- Retirement Calculator (OPM's Federal Ballpark E$timate)
- Retirement Information and Services
- Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
  - Self-Service Fact Sheet (PDF; 29KB)
- WAEPA - a non-government web site detailing a life insurance option for government employees and their families.
Employee Information
- Axon (ARS Intranet) is a central place where ARS employees can find, access, and share information and resources needed to perform their jobs more effectively. Use the same username and password as your e-mail, typically usda\first.lastname.
- Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF) Access - use MS Internet Explorer to access this self-service tool that enables you to electronically view and print your OPF documents, and to update your vital Emergency Data.
  Web address: https://eopf.nbc.gov/usdalanding/
- Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF)- Frequently Asked Question (PDF)
New Employee Onboarding Portal (USDA Departmental Management)
USDA Employee Services
Employees Invest in ARS
- Your Two Cents - Share your ideas, best practices and innovations for your work, your office & your organization. Put your two cents out there for Agency leaders (and all of ARS if you choose!) and tune back in for discussion and appropriate actions in the coming months.
- Voices - the NPA Diversity Task Force compiled a publication (PDF) called “VOICES”, as a way of communicating with Area employees about the many facets of diversity.
- USDA Connection - USDA's social networking capability. Sign in using your e-auth

Directories
- Directories and other contact information throughout ARS can be found here. (PACOP website/AXON)
- NPARL Office Extensions (PDF; 13KB)
Emergency
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- NPARL Office Dismissal or Closure Procedures (PDF; 56 KB)
Health and Safety
- ARS Emergency Readiness
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 1-800-222-0364
- Reporting Employee Health-related Absences (PDF; 35 KB)
- Federal Occupational Health
- NPARL Safety Information
- Requests for repairs or maintenance (PDF; 240 KB)

Manuscript Information
- Research Manuscripts
  - Helpful Hints for submitting NPARL author (PDF; 42 KB)
  - Policy Memorandum-08-001 - Manuscripts/Publications to Websites
  - Policy Memorandum-05-001 - Foreign Correspondence / Reprint Requests from Restricted Countries
  - Policy & Procedures - search for 'manuscript', 151.1, or 151.2
  - ARIS Manuscript Entry Form ARS-115 (PDF; 180 KB)
  - Non-ARS Author Permission Form (PDF; 189 KB)
  - ARS Peer Review Form ARS-533 (PDF; 26 KB; also see REE-FORMS)
Other Scientist Info:
- Office of Scientific Quality Review - OSQR
- Research Position Evaluation System - RPES
- Preparing Your RPES Case (16 pg PDF; 230 KB)
Projects and Funding Information
Project Forms
- Agreements SOP (PDF; 145KB) (Dated January 2012)
- Tips for Incoming Funds Record/Research-click here (Feb. 2015)
- Incoming Funds Record-Research to apply for and use funds from outside sources, including participating in a collaborative role with no funds to ARS-SY must receive ARS approval before submitting a proposal. (Prefer 30 days day prior to due date)
  (Incoming Funds Record 425 Template; 1209 KB, Oct 2014)
- Projects (non-funded or funded greater than or equal to $25,000
     (Incoming Funds Record 425 Template; 1209 KB, Oct 2014)
     (SCA process; PDF; 30 KB, Oct 2008)
     (416-417/NFCA Fillable Template PDF; 91 KB, Dec 2008)
- ARIS Templates are also available in Chapter 16 of the manual and available on AXON.

Pay and Leave

Time Sheet| EOP| EPP| Leave Transfer Program| Overtime Authorization| Comp Time

Where is my time sheet?
Employees can now access their timesheets online through NFC's WebTA at https://wtausda.nfc.usda.gov/usda/. Partial hours are recorded in 15 minute increments. See SOP (PDF; 20 KB, dated July 2013) for more information in PDF format.
- Your regular scheduled work hours must be accounted for each day. Time can be recorded using different transaction codes; either 01-regular hours worked, 61-annual leave (vacation), 62-sick leave, 62-62-family sick leave, 29- or 50-credit, 32 or 64-compensatory, 32-78/64-78-travel compensatory or other (66-federal holiday, 71-LWOP).
- See the Administrative Officer if you need to change the number of hours you are scheduled to work.
Pay and Leave Resources - AFM
- P&P 402.1 - Flexible Work Schedule
- P&P 402.3 - Premium Pay
- P&P 402.6 - Common Types of Leave
Salary Tables - OPM (Scroll toLocality Pay Area: Rest of United States)

Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF) Access - use MS Internet Explorer to access this self-service tool that enables you to electronically view and print your OPF documents, and to update your vital Emergency Data.
Web address: https://eopf.nbc.gov/landing/

Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF)- Frequently Asked Question (PDF)
Employee Personal Page (EPP)- to access your payroll information.
Leave Transfer Program
- This program is available for employees to apply as a recipient or donate annual leave, click here to link to the HR Forms page; scroll down to "R"; then click on the desired form number to download a a Word file (listed in bold below).
  - RecipientPersonalApplication (REE-3A; Word 71 KB)
  - RecipientFamilyApplication (REE-3B; 84 KB)
  - Donor Application (REE-4; 41 KB)
- Outside of ARS - Leave Transfer Program Donor (OPM630-B, See REE-FORMS)
Telework Program - what is it? Read about the program here.
- AD-3018 Telework Form
What is Comp Travel time?
- How do I record extra time that I work?
  1. Credit time is accrued when you choose to work more than your scheduled hours with supervisor permission and the maximum balance.
  2. Comp time is when your supervisor requires you to work over your regular scheduled hours. (Click here for more information.)
- Basic Question and Answer Sheet - HQ email dated 2/1/2005 (PDF; 29 KB)
- Overview Chart of Comp Travel (PDF; 28 KB)
- Visual Chart of Comp Travel (PDF; 77 KB)
- Figuring Your Comp Travel Hours Worksheet (PDF; 297 KB)
Policies
- Policies, Procedures and Manuals
- Bulletins(Bulletins outline revised policy and procedures)
- Frequently Asked Questions - Office of Personnel Management
- NPA Policy Memorandums

Purchasing Information
- Acquisition Tool Kit
- Forms
  - Purchase Request AD-700 (See REE-FORMS)
  - Reimbursement Claim SF-1164
  - (See REE-FORMS)
- Integrated Acquisition System (IAS)
- USDA Use of Purchase Guide (DR 5013-6) and other related alternative payment methods.
- NPA Purchase Information
- NPARL Purchasing Procedures (PDF; 44 KB)
- REE Purchase Card Program 213.3 Manual
- USDA Charge Card Service Center (CCSC)
- Vendors (Please utilize this specified order)
  - Activity Inventory (On-Hand Stock/Cupboard Stock)
  - Excess Personal Property
  - UNICOR (Federal Prison Industries)
  - AbilityOne (JWOD, NIB, NISH included)
  - GSA Federal Acquisition Service
    (GSA Advantage| GSA Global Supply| GSA Excess)
  - Mandatory Federal Supply Schedules (See the LAPC)
  - Intramalls
  - Optional Federal Supply Schedules (See the LAPC)
  - Commercial Sources

Training
- Ag-Learn -USDA
- Ethics Training -USDA
- Employee Development P&P
- Employee Individual Development Plan/Training Website
- Government Online Learning Center (GoLearn) - OPM
- SF-182: How to fill out a Training Request (SOP) - (PDF; 205 KB; dated March 2013)
  - Aglearn offers an SF-182 Online Interactive Course for users on how to complete and submit an SF-182 external training request through AgLearn. In addition, this course also provides instructions for supervisors and managers on how to approve and verify training events for submitted requests.
- Training Resources - AFM
- USDA e-Authentication
Travel

Travel Steps| Travel Card| Contributed or Foreign| Relocation

What do you need to do for travel? (Click highlighted text below for PDF)

NPARL Travel Procedures (PDF; 54 KB)

Step 1, Authorization:
- Travel Request (PDF; 63 KB)
  (Several weeks before travel begins)
  - Limited Open Travel Request is used for frequent travel for
    field work purposes.
  - Request Actual Subsistence
    (MS Word; 2 KB) (only when exceed allowedallowed per diem)
  - Travel Ethics
Step 2, Reservations:
- Travel Tips for NPARL employees (PDF; 110 KB)
- Fedrooms
  (1-800-226-1741 or email hotels@fedrooms.com)
- FEMA Certified Hotel Listing
Step 3, Other Information:
- GSA Travel Resources
- Federal Travel Regulation
- Per Diem Rates (Domestic)
- Per Diem Rates (Foreign)
- Hotel Taxes - State Tax Exempt Forms Library - (Exempt Forms for California, Delaware, DC, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia)
Step 4, Reimbursement:
- Reimbursement Cover Sheet (PDF; 96 KB)
  (Complete within 5 days after returning home)
- Figuring Comp Travel (mostly FSLA Exempt employees)
- Reimbursement Claim SF-1164 (For expenses not related to travel)
GOV/POV
- Personal Owned Vehicle (POV) Mileage Rates
- GOV Alternative Fuel Locations
  - Roadside Service Program Alert
  - Alternative Fuels Alert
Travel Card (For those traveling more than once a year, the first 3 forms must be completed, signed and returned to the front office. Click on highlighted text below for PDF's)
- Application- See administrative personnel
- Travel Card Acknowledgement (2 pages; PDF; 17 KB)
- Travel Card Training - AgLearn (Internet Explorer is best)
- Travel Card Payment - (Access Online)
Foreign Travel
Submit the information form to your unit secretary to enter into FTIS. It can then be tracked for its authorization level.
- Information Needed for Secretary Office Foreign Travel Report (PDF; 17 KB)
  (Note: Head Quarters Authorization may take up to 3-4 weeks)
- APHIS-International Travel Information for Agricultural Travelers
Contributed Funds
(Non-federal source, greater than $250 and must be authorized by Area Director. Submit the Invitation Letter, the Through-Letter Request and the original signed Official Duty Approval to your travel coordinator)
- Invitation Letter
- Conflict of Interest AD-1101 Form
  (Employee completes pages 1-2 and signs page 2; Area office authorizes; PDF; 201 KB)
- Acceptance Letter is provided by the travel coordinator

Relocation Reimbursement
- Travel Reimbursement Cover Sheet (PDF; 96 KB)
- Expense Record for Temporary Quarters AD-569
  (PDF; 177KB; or see REE-FORMS)
- Relocation Guide
- Travel Safety Information
What do I do if I am expecting a foreign visitor (non-citizen)?
- Complete Non-Citizen Visitor Form and submit to the AO. More advance notice and more information is required for a non-citizen staying longer than 10 days and/or using federal equipment.
- Non-citizens must sign in/out with each entry/exit and are allowed on ARS property only between the hours of 6:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mon-Fri.
- Notify the AO with any changes or if the visitor cancels the trip.

Miscellaneous Information

Calendars

NPA Events
AgNIC
Frequently Asked Questions for New Employees
- What are the office hours?
  Core office hours are 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, although employees are allowed a flexible schedule with supervisor permission.
- How many people are employed here?
  There are 47 permanent full time employees. During the summer season, employment can increase up to 70-75 people.
- What to do if I am expecting a visitor (U.S. citizen)?
  All visitors must sign in at the front desk and receive a visitors badge.
- How often do I get paid?
  Paychecks are issued bi-weekly and you will receive your first pay check 3 weeks after you begin duty.
- How do I access SharePoint? (use MS Internet Explorer only)
  Go to https://e.arsnet.usda.gov/sites/PA/npa/sidney and sign on using your email ID and password.
- How do I access the ARS Intranet? Click on Axon, use the same username and password as your e-mail, typically usda\first.lastname.
Property
- Can I use government owned property for personal use?
  Read USDA Office of Ethics Rules for more information.

Can I use work computers or other government property for personal use?
Please read P&P 253.4 and/or USDA's Office of Ethics Newsletter, page 5.
What do I do if I need to remove government owned items off location?
A Property Pass (Form AD-873) must be on file. Please check with the property management officer or administrative officer for further questions .
How do I get repair or maintenance done in my office or lab?
Fill out a work order (PDF; 240 KB) and turn in to the maintenance department.
How do I get keys to perform my duties in other buildings?
See standard procedures for key dissemination (PDF; 103 KB).
What to do if I am expecting a visitor (U.S. citizen)?
All visitors must sign in at the front desk and receive a visitors badge.
Where can I look for a permanent federal job?

Images
Libraries
- Digitop
- National Agricultural Library

Last Modified: 9/9/2016

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