Continuing Resolution for FY03

The Agency does not yet have an appropriation bill for fiscal year 2003 (FYO3) but, the agency will be able to continue operations under a Continuing Resolution (CR) that allows us to operate through October 4, 2002. Both the House and Senate have passed a continuing resolution to take us through Friday, October 11. In all likelihood, we will continue to receive CRs for varying lengths of time until our appropriations bill is signed. During an FY03 CR, the following conditions apply:

o All employees are to report to work for normal working hours.

o Projects and programs will be funded at an FY02 level. We will receive incremental, limited funding authority based on the length of the CR. New initiatives will not be funded until an appropriations bill is signed. If the limited funding received by any one project, program, or organization is not sufficient to meet obligation requirements, please notify the Center CFO, so that we have an opportunity to work the issue at a GSFC or HQ level as necessary.

o Employees may conduct official travel. Travel orders are released for travel through the period of the CR. We will receive incremental, limited travel funding authority based on the length of the CR. For travel that extends beyond the period of a current CR, travelers need to be sure that the Government is in fact operating under a continuing resolution for the duration of the official travel. Until we have an appropriation, all travel orders should carry the following standard statement:

Approval and funding is contingent upon either the passage of a continuing resolution or NASA's FY03 appropriations bill.

If an organization has a particularly large travel requirement during the period of the CR, please notify the Center CFO so that we may work the issue at a GSFC or HQ level as necessary.

o Operations are not authorized beyond the duration of the current CR until an additional CR or an FY03 appropriations bill is passed by the House and Senate and signed by the President.

For more information, contact the CFO Office, Nancy Abell at x6-7947 or Julie Baker at x6-7948.