NASA Official Fleet Management Handbook
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are
contractor's allowed to use government vehicles?
A. Yes. GSA and NASA- owned vehicles have often
been provided to contractors under cost reimbursable and fixed priced
contracts, although this practice is now discouraged. Refer to
paragraphs 1.3.5, 1.3.6, 3.4.1 and 11.0 for complete details.
Q. Can
my family ride in my government vehicle while on TDY?
A. The Comptroller General has ruled that agencies
have the discretion to determine on a case by case basis if it is in the
Government’s best interest, e.g., morale purposes, to permit dependents
to accompany employees in Government vehicles otherwise used for
official business. Refer to published decisions 57 Comp. Gen. 266(1978)
and 68 Comp. Gen. 186 (1989) for more details.
Q. Why
must I drive an alternative fueled vehicle?
A. America is trying to reduce its dependence on
foreign petroleum imports. There are statutory requirements outlined in
the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and Executive Order 13149. See NASA
Handbook para. 5.2.3 and chapter 6.
Q. When
are vehicles due for replacement?
A. For GSA vehicles, GSA has minimum replacement
standards addressed in the Federal Property Management Regulation
Section 102-34.280 which can be accessed at
www.gsa.gov. NASA-owned vehicles should be replaced when they are no
longer economical to maintain. Individual Centers are encouraged to use
a Life Cycle Costing Analysis to establish general life expectancy in
years and miles for each vehicle type.
Q. Who
can drive and/or ride in a Government vehicle?
A. Government employees and contractors may operate
government vehicles when conducting official government business in
support of NASA functions or activities. Refer to Official Use of
Vehicles, paragraph 3.1 through 3.10.
Q. Does
the Govt. provide insurance coverage for the driver and passengers?
A. Yes. For government employees, the government is
self-insured, negating the need for further insurance. Contractors must
be properly insured for vehicles operated in connection with the
applicable contract. See paragraph 11.4 and the Drivers and Operator’s
section of the NASA Handbook.
Q. What
is the difference between an “accident” and an “incident”?
A. An “accident” is an event that causes damage to
a vehicle while being operated by a driver, regardless of who was at
fault. It may involve a single vehicle or multiple vehicles. An
“incident” is an event that causes damage to a vehicle while it is
not being operated and may result from contact by another vehicle,
acts of nature, vandalism, or unknown causes.
Q. Who
does the driver call when the Govt. vehicle breaks down after hours or
on weekends in a desolate location?
A. The Center Transportation Officer must ensure
drivers are provided with emergency contact information in the event of
break downs in any location. This information should be provided in the
glove box of every vehicle. Refer to paragraph 7.9.3 and 7.9.4 for
information on both NASA and GSA vehicles.
Q. How
often are customers allowed to have the vehicle cleaned and charge it to
the Voyager card?
A. This depends on whether it is a GSA vehicle or
NASA-owned vehicle. For GSA vehicles, standard policy (unwritten) is to
obtain a basic car wash ($10 limit) no more than twice monthly using the
Voyager Card. For NASA-owned vehicles, the Transportation Officer can
establish standards depending on local environmental conditions and
needs. A standard maximum of twice monthly is suggested.
Q. Can
I, as the vehicle, user purchase parts at an auto parts place and
install the part myself? (such as batteries, windshield wipers, etc.)
A. Generally, no. Exceptions may be allowed in
unusual circumstances but drivers should coordinate directly with the
Transportation Officer to determine the extent of operator maintenance
that can be accomplished. Refer to paragraph 7.1.
Q. Can
contractor employees drive GSA vehicles assigned to NASA?
A. Yes. Contractors have been authorized to operate
GSA vehicles assigned to NASA in the performance of contracts and with
the approval of GSA. NASA policy is to discontinue this practice where
possible. Refer to paragraph 1.3.5 and 1.3.6.
Q. Why
does it take so long from the time a new vehicle request is submitted to
receipt of the vehicle?
A. GSA does not normally maintain a pool of
vehicles for issue. Therefore they have to be ordered during GSA’s
normal replacement cycle which begins October of each year. Refer to the
chart noted in paragraph 4.2.2.8.
Q. What
is the purpose of a Vehicle Utilization Review Board (VURB)?
A. The VURB is responsible for monitoring the size
and utilization of the Center’s fleet and making recommendations for
changes concerning vehicle assignments and allocations to all
organizations within the Center.
Q. Are
civil servants authorized to checkout a vehicle from the Motor Pool if
they have travel orders?
A. Yes. The Federal Travel Regulation, paragraph
301-10.220, states the following: “You must possess a valid State,
District of Columbia, or territorial motor vehicle operator’s license
and have a travel authorization specifically authorizing the use of a
Government-furnished automobile” if travel is away from the employee’s
official duty station.
Q. Are
Contractors allowed to place NASA decals on their own vehicles?
A. Yes. Contractor-owned vehicles operating
primarily within the confines of a Center may display the NASA decal,
but should also be placarded with the Contractors name and logo or other
signs or as specified in contracts. See paragraph 11.3.
Q. Why
did we get rid of the 15 passenger van?
A. The rollover risk “increases dramatically as the
number of occupants increases to full capacity” and is “about five times
greater than when the vehicle contains only a driver”. See
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov for
NHTSA 25-04 June 1, 2004 report. Refer to paragraph 4.5.16 of the
Handbook.
Q. What
is the process for purchasing emergency vehicles ASAP?
A. If an emergency requirement exists, the CTO
should take the following steps:
-
Try to
locate an existing GSA or NASA-owned asset that may be available for
transfer or reassignment (be sure to contact all other NASA
Centers);
-
Obtain a
commercial rental or lease vehicle to temporarily fulfill the need
until a normal purchase can be made;
-
Contract
for the service or arrange for the existing contractor to secure the
asset where economically feasible;
-
In rare
circumstances, it may be appropriate to initiate the process of
purchasing a “stock” vehicle from a local dealer’s inventory.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Chapter View
Last Updated:
08/30/2005 02:45 PM
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