U.S. General Services Administration
Long-term lodging
Which lodging program is right for me?
Long Term Lodging is the right program when you need a fully furnished residential unit, typically for assignments, rotations, or details where a hotel is impractical for an extended stay.
FedRooms is our negotiated hotel rate program for temporary duty travel, or TDY, stays of up to 30 nights, with rates available for up to 99 nights at participating properties.
Our Long Term Lodging program is a federal contract vehicle that provides government agencies and travelers with access to pre-vetted vendors who source fully furnished apartments and condominiums for stays of 30 nights or more.
LTL vendors are experienced professionals specializing in government lodging for individual travelers as well as agencywide acquisitions. All vendors are awarded contracts under our Multiple Award Schedule, special item number 531110.
Quick reference
Use the documents below to help you in your path to long-term lodging.
Eligibility groups
Federal employees
All civilian federal employees traveling on official business are eligible for LTL.
U.S. military personnel
Active duty service members and Department of Defense civilian employees may use LTL for CONUS assignments. Certain OCONUS markets are available on a case-by-case basis depending on location and scale.
Contractors
Contractors are limited to when the sponsoring federal agency funds the lodging through a task order or other authorized purchase method.
LTL property types
- Furnished apartments
- Furnished condominiums
- Extended-stay residential units
LTL properties include more standard, popular amenities than what you’ll find with a standard hotel, and usually include options for Wifi, utilities, and parking.
Single-family homes, such as through Airbnb or VRBO, are not allowed.
LTL versus hotels
| Feature | LTL apartment or condo | Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Typical monthly cost (30+ days) | Low negotiated government rate | Cost varies by property |
| Kitchen and cooking facilities | Full kitchen included | Limited or none |
| Living space | Separate bedroom and living room | Single room |
| Workspace | Dedicated desk area | Small desk in room |
| Parking | Available as add-on | Paid, extra charge |
| Pet accommodations | Often available if specified in the SOW | Rarely available |
| Laundry | In-unit or on-site | Paid coin laundry or valet |
| Accessibility options | Configurable per requirement | Limited ADA rooms |
| Market availability | CONUS and select OCONUS markets | Nationwide and international |
LTL for travelers and agencies
LTL is a contract vehicle. We have already competed and awarded contracts to qualified lodging vendors under MAS SIN 531110. You do not need to conduct a full competition from scratch — you work directly with those pre-awarded vendors to obtain quotes and select the best fit.
| Reservation amount per month | How to pay or procure |
|---|---|
| Under $15,000 | Travelers pay directly using their SmartPay government travel card. File a travel claim every 30 days through your agency travel system. |
| $15,000 or more | A warranted contracting officer is required to create a task order against the LTL BPA or MAS contract. We can provide assisted acquisition support. |
| $50,000 or more (total order value) | Eligible for our Assisted Acquisition Services, where we manage the full acquisition lifecycle on your behalf. We recommend this for large, multimillion-dollar acquisitions; however, this is optional. You can procure on your own with a contracting officer. |
For individual travelers
What about per diem expenses?
LTL stays are typically subject to your agency’s per diem rules for lodging. Consult your agency travel policy and use the per diem rate calculator for the applicable location. If your LTL rate exceeds the lodging per diem, your agency may need to authorize an actual expense allowance, or AEA.
Federal employees and service members who need lodging for 30 or more nights in a CONUS market can book LTL directly, with or without agency involvement, if it is under $15,000 a month.
Booking process
- Create a statement of work, or SOW.
- Gather your requirements: location, length of stay, unit size, commuting distance, parking, pets, accessible unit needs, and period of performance.
- Contact at least three vendors from the GSA eLibrary LTL vendor list with your SOW to request quotes.
- Review and compare vendor quotes. Select the option that best meets your requirements and budget.
- For reservations under $15,000/month, the traveler pays with a SmartPay travel card or an agency approved payment method and files a travel claim every 30 days.
DoD staff can make LTL reservations outside of the Defense Travel System. Still submit your travel claims through DTS. Contact your travel office for guidance on voucher submission for LTL stays.
For agencies: Large-scale and multi-unit procurement
Key considerations for scaled requirements
Market size
Market size directly affects unit availability and pricing. Evaluate location requirements carefully before committing to a large-scale contract. Availability in smaller markets may be limited.
Location
CONUS markets are fully supported. Select OCONUS markets are available on a case-by-case basis depending on scale and location.
Specialization
LTL vendors are experienced with sourcing multiple units across government lodging markets. Engage vendors early with a detailed SOW to allow adequate lead time.
Time
Allow sufficient procurement lead time. Complex, multi-unit requirements take longer to source and price. We recommend initiating vendor outreach as early as possible.
SOW elements for multi-unit procurement
In addition to the individual traveler elements listed in above, large-scale SOWs should include:
- Total number of units required.
- Whether units must be co-located or proximate to each other.
- Start and end dates, with any anticipated option periods.
- Specific accessibility requirements — ADA unit count, if applicable.
- Preferred geographic zone or distance from agency worksite.
- Any special requirements, such as clearance-related security or government vehicle parking.
Contracting pathways for agencies
| Scenario | Recommended approach | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single unit, under $15K/month | Traveler uses a SmartPay card and files a travel claim every 30 days | No task order required |
| Single unit, $15K/month or more | Agency Contracting Officer issues task order against MAS | CO must be warranted |
| Multi-unit, complex requirement | Either GSA Assisted Acquisition or your agency Contracting Officer issues task order against MAS | Fees apply for Assisted Acquisitions |
| Time-sensitive or surge requirement | Contact vendors and GSA simultaneously. Provide a draft SOW | Early engagement is critical. For emergency or disaster lodging use Emergency Lodging Services |
Assisted acquisition
How to get started with AAS
Contact the Travel Programs team at Travel.Programs@gsa.gov. Include a brief description of your requirement — location, approximate number of units, period of performance, and timeline.
For complex, high-value, or multi-unit requirements, our Assisted Acquisition team can manage the procurement on your behalf. This removes the burden of acquisition from your agency and leverages our specialized expertise in government lodging markets.
For smaller requirements, agencies should use their own Contracting Officer to issue a task order directly against the MAS. We recommend Assisted Acquisitions in the following scenarios:
- Multi-million dollar contract value.
- Multi-unit sourcing across one or more locations.
- Extended periods of performance: six months or more.
- Requirements with complex specifications or unique market constraints.
- Agencies without a warranted contracting officer available for a large, complex procurement.
What we provide
- Full acquisition lifecycle management: SOW development support, market research, solicitation, award, and administration.
- Direct vendor engagement and negotiation on your behalf.
- Contract documentation and compliance oversight.
Prospective vendors: How to join LTL
LTL is part of our Multiple Award Schedule. You must complete the MAS application process to become eligible to compete for government LTL task orders. We recommend you confirm your eligibility before you apply:
- Your business must be registered in SAM.gov.
- LTL requires lease agreements of 30 nights or more. For short-term stays, consider registering with FedRooms.
- We do not contract with single-family home vendors and leases.
- Hotel brands should apply from a corporate perspective rather than an individual franchise. Individual franchise properties can then bid on task orders under the brand’s contract.