Information on Receiving Contract and Commercial Payments
On this page:
The Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) is a secure, web-based electronic invoicing system provided by the U.S. Department of Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service. IPP is available at no cost to any commercial vendor or independent contractor doing business with a participating government agency. EPA began the first phase of implementing IPP with contract invoices only in October 2019. The next phase will also include simplified acquisitions, and the use of IPP will become mandatory for all vendors and contractors effective May 23, 2023 to comply with the Office of Management and Budget requirement that federal entities utilize an electronic system for receipt of vendor invoices.
Note that as EPA transitions to complete use of IPP for all vendor invoices, there will be a cutoff date of May 1, 2023 for submission of invoices outside of IPP. All invoices submitted after the cutoff must be resubmitted in IPP. No paper invoices will be accepted and processed after the cutoff and must be submitted in IPP when the system becomes available. There are few exceptions to this for paper invoices, such as from utility companies, which will be entered into IPP by EPA via the self-service module. For those invoices submitted via email after the May 1, 2023 cutoff, they will be returned to the vendor via email with instructions for submission through IPP.
All existing obligations in IPP will be placed on hold from May 1, 2023 (at 9:00 pm EST) through May 22, 2023 so that vendors are also unable to submit invoices in IPP during this time. EPA will not process new invoices from May 2, 2023 through May 22, 2023.
Billing Tips
Prior to submitting your invoice
- Register in the System for Award Management (SAM)
- Know the terms of the contract/procurement requisition document
- Know the EPA payment office's address, phone number, and the method to submit invoice billings
- Know whether cost and funding limitations apply
- Ensure your company is classified correctly by EPA (small businesses or individuals may qualify for accelerated payments)
Required information for invoices
- Date of invoice
- Invoice number
- Total amount billed
- EPA contract and delivery order number and period of performance
- Complete company name and billing address as stated on the contract or order
- Duns and Taxpayer Identification Number Bank for EFT payment, bank name, address, account number and routing number, if not in the SAM
- Point of contact name, email and phone number
Invoice content and formatting
- Bill only within the period of performance
- Bill for only one option period per invoice
- Bill only for only one delivery order per invoice
- Use the original invoice number followed by an 'R' (resubmitted or revised) when billing for reclaimed, revised or returned billings
- Bill the net amount only when billing for revised or suspended amounts
- Never bill in excess of the contract funded amount
- Do not bill for state and local taxes unless authorized - EPA Tax Exempt #: 520852695
Instructions for Submitting Invoices via IPP.GOV
Getting Started with the IPP Collector Module
How to submit a Refund
The EPA strives to accept collections through electronic mechanisms when viable and check collections are accepted at the FCs when electronic mechanisms are not available. The agency’s preferred electronic mechanism to receive payments from the public is PAY.GOV. Collections may be sent to the agency in one or more of the following ways:
- PAY.GOV (Preferred Method): Customers can access our agency collection site to pay bills using PayPal or ACH Debit. PAY.GOV provides the most secure and efficient option for payment. Customers can also search and view previous payment transactions and generate transactional reports.
- RTP Finance Center PAY.GOV Receivable Form: For one-time payments. Receivable Form does not require a customer user account.
RTP Mailing Address
For U.S Postal Service:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
RTP Finance Center (AA216-01)
Durham, NC 27711
For UPS, Federal Express or Overnight Mail:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
RTP Finance Center
4930 Old Page Road (AA216-01)
Durham, NC 27703