Hi, Lori—
I would say yes, as long as the purpose of the travel is reasonably related to the purposes of the grant(s) in question.
The Fly America Act requires travel funded by U.S. federal money to use American-flagged carriers into and out of the United States, and that’s clearly covered in your scenario. Outside the U.S., such travelers are to use U.S.-flagged carriers when these are “reasonably available” (in the words of 49 USC 40118(a)(3)(B)). Under the GSA’s Federal Travel Regulations (http://www.gsa.gov/portal/mediaId/220871/fileName/FTR_Change_2015-02.action), §301-10.135(d), pp. 57-58 in the linked PDF), if no U.S.-flagged carrier provides service on a particular leg of the route, a foreign air carrier may be used, but only to or from the nearest interchange point on a usually traveled route where a connection to a U.S.-flagged carrier may be made. But §301-10.137-138 (page 58 in the linked PDF), provide exceptions to the requirement if any of the following is true:
· Using the U.S.-flagged carrier would increase the number of aircraft changes that must be made by 2 or more;
· Using the U.S.-flagged carrier would extend travel time by 6 hours or more;
· Using the U.S.-flagged carrier would require a connecting time of 4 hours or more at an overseas interchange point
· There is no seat available in the authorized class of service on the U.S.-flagged carrier, but such a seat is available on a foreign air carrier
Under §301-10.141, you must provide a certification if you use a foreign air carrier, which must include the following:
· The traveler’s name
· Dates of travel
· Origin and destination of travel
· A detailed itinerary for the trip, including the name of the air carrier and flight number for each leg of the trip
· A statement explaining why the travel met one of the exceptions in §301-10.135, 301-10.136, or 301-10.137 or a copy of the agency’s written approval that foreign air carrier service was deemed a matter of necessity in accordance with §310-10.138.
Michael Spires, M.A., M.S.
Senior Proposal Analyst
Office of Contracts and Grants
Woodbury 401, 572 UCB
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, Colorado 80309-0572
O (303) 492-6646
F (303) 492-6421
Visit OCG’s NEW Website: www.colorado.edu/ocg
From: Research Administration List [mailto:xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org] On Behalf Of Lori Johnson
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2015 1:20 PM
To: xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org
Subject: [RESADM-L] Fly America act
Hello,
I have a situation I've not encountered before and would appreciate some help. A PI will be flying "home" to China for the off-contract summer time (from IHE) and will be doing his research while there for the summer. He would like to charge the travel to an NSF grant. The travel from USA to China and back is an American Flag airline. While he is there, however, he would like to go from China to Korea and back to a conference and charge that trip to the NSF grant. No American Flag airline is available for that trip. He is going into China first because if he goes from USA to Korea, his VISA won't allow his departure. But if he travels from China to Korea it will not be an American Flag airline.
Are both trips allowable on the NSF grant?
Thanks for any input.
--
Lori Johnson, MBA
Director, Sponsored Proj Accounting
Idaho State University
PO Box 8219
Pocatello, ID 83209
PH: 208-282-3899
FAX: 208-282-5923
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