August 17, 2015 – The FY2016 per diem rates are now available. To view FY2016 rates click here and follow the instructions. The FY2016 rates are NOT the default rates until October 1, 2015. FY2015 is the fiscal year through September 30, 2015.
FY 2016 Per Diem Highlights
GSA establishes the per diem rates for the lower 48 Continental United States (CONUS), which are the maximum allowances that federal employees are reimbursed for expenses incurred while on official travel.
The CONUS per diem rate for an area is actually three allowances: the lodging allowance, the meals allowance and the incidental expense allowance. Most of the CONUS (approximately 2600 counties) are covered by the standard CONUS per diem rate of $140 ($89 lodging, $51 meals and incidental expenses). In fiscal year (FY) 2016, there continue to be about 400 Non-Standard Areas (NSAs) that have per diem rates higher than the standard CONUS rate.
Since FY 2005, NSA rates have been based on Average Daily Rate (ADR) data from the lodging industry, which GSA obtains through a contract with a leading provider of lodging industry data. For more about how per diem rates are determined, visit Factors Influencing Lodging Rates. The ADR is a widely accepted lodging-industry measure based upon a property’s room rental revenue divided by the number of rooms rented as reported by the hotel property to the contractor. This calculation provides GSA with the average rate in a given area.
As in previous years, GSA still uses:
- Only “fire safe” properties; GSA is required by law to use only properties that are certified as being in compliance with the Hotel & Motel Fire Safety Act of 1990.
- Properties that fall within the mid-price range.
- Data from the prior 12-month period. For FY 2016, this is from April 2014 through March 2015;
- Business travel week data (Monday through Thursday)
Agencies are reminded that the Federal Travel Regulation allows for actual expense reimbursement when per diem rates are insufficient to meet necessary expenses. Please see FTR §301-11.300 through 306 for more information.
FY 2016 Results:
Two locations will become new NSAs in FY 2016: Grand Lake, CO (Grand County) and Pecos, TX (Reeves County).
In FY 2016, 15 locations that were NSAs in FY 2015 will move into the standard CONUS rate category. They include:
For a detailed map and rate look-up please visit:
