Memorandum: HHS Policy on Promoting Efficient Spending: Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and Meetings, Food, Promotional Items, and Printing and Publications

January 3, 2012

To: Operating Division Heads
Staff Division Heads

From: Ellen G. Murray, Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources /s/

Subject: HHS Policy on Promoting Efficient Spending: Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and Meetings, Food, Promotional Items, and Printing and Publications

The Department has developed new policies on the use of appropriated funds for conferences and meeting space (Attachment 1), food (Attachment 2), extraneous promotional items (Attachment 3), and printing and publications (Attachment 4). 

These policies support the Executive Order on Promoting Efficient Spending (EO 13589); the Executive Order on Delivering an Efficient, Effective, and Accountable Government (EO 13576); and Office of Management and Budget Memorandum on Eliminating Excess Conference Spending and Promoting Efficiency in Government (M-35-11).  The policies also promote the Department’s commitment to comply with appropriations law and act in a fiscally responsible manner by minimizing our administrative costs to perform our mission critical functions in the most efficient, cost effective way. 

The policies are effective immediately and apply to all new obligations and all funds appropriated by Congress (whether from an annual appropriation, multi-year appropriation, appropriated user fee, mandatory appropriation, gift funds, or reimbursements from such appropriations, etc.).

We appreciate the comments that the Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs) provided on the earlier drafts of these policies.  The attached policies have been revised where possible based on your comments.  Please share this transmittal memorandum and the attached policies with all appropriate officials within your OPDIV or STAFFDIV.

Attachments:

• Attachment 1: HHS Policy on Use of Appropriated Funds for Conferences and Meeting Space
• Attachment 2: HHS Policy on Use of Appropriated Funds for Food
• Attachment 3: HHS Policy on Use of Appropriated Funds for Promotional Items
• Attachment 4: HHS Policy on Printing and Publications