Friday, January 25, 2008

DoD announces travel card provider

The DoD recently announced the selection of Citibank to provide travel charge card services for its members under the General Services Administration’s umbrella SmartPay 2 master contract. 

The new official travel cards will activate on Nov. 30. DoD now has 1.2 million card holders who accounted for 61 percent of total government-wide travel spending in 2006.

The estimated value of the DoD travel card task order over a 10-year period is $40 billion, based on projected travel card spending. 

The mandatory travel charge card provides travelers with benefits such as no interest charges, delayed late fees and insurance benefits. 

The Defense Travel Management Office, established in 2006, centrally manages commercial travel programs, including the travel card program.

The DTMO will work with the current vendor, Bank of America, and Citibank to minimize any unforeseen interruption in travel card services leading up
to the new card activation. Before the switch, card holders will get frequent communications about requirements and what to expect.