NASA Employees: Don't Travel Until November

NASA LaRC Internal Memo on Travel Reimbursement

"As you are aware, NASA's accounting system, SAP will be down from late September 2006 until at least November 13, 2006. No payments will be made from September 27, 2006 until after November 13, 2006, including travel vouchers. When the system comes back up, the NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC) will be working extra shifts and overtime to process the backlog of travel vouchers as quickly as possible."

Reader note: "Supposedly NASA is this high tech agency that spends billions of dollars and yet we cannot seem to cross FY's without having to essentially shut down the financial system for 1-2 months. This year is even worse with new Services Center opening in MS. Do companies stop buying stuff when this happens? How are we going to get anywhere if this kind of stuff happens every year. It is nuts."

Reader note: "Regarding the financial systems, not only will vouchers not be paid, purchase orders and contracts cannot be let until the financial systems come back up in November. Here at Glenn funding is released in fits and starts. Much of the funding was released in August and September. The Contract Specialists and Buyers, pressured by the technical community, have to scurry to obligate all the money within the constraints imposed by the Federal Acquisition Regulations."