Relocation Services

• Long-Distance Moves: FM Logistical Services maintains a contracted moving agreement with UniGroup (United Van Lines) for household relocations more than 50 miles from College Park, Maryland.
• Local Moves: Relocations within a 50-mile radius of College Park are coordinated through FM Special Services, which works with contracted moving vendors.
• International Moves: Allow at least eight weeks for planning and processing.

These services are available when the University has authorized payment for the relocation.

Requests for household moving quotes must be submitted by a UMD Departmental or School Business or Administrative Leader, or an authorized team member acting on their behalf, through the UMD FM Service Request Portal.

The request must follow the University's formal approval process. A quote request is the initial step in planning and does not authorize the University to incur moving expenses.

Submit requests as early as possible to allow sufficient time for estimates, departmental approvals, vendor coordination, and scheduling.

Peak Season (May–Early September)

• Allow a minimum of six weeks for estimates and booking.
• Plan for approximately two weeks for estimates and ensure at least three weeks remain before the desired move date for booking.
• Expect longer delivery windows and potential schedule changes.
• Mid-month moves are recommended when possible.

Off-Season

• Allow approximately four weeks from the initial request to the scheduled move.

International Moves

• Allow at least eight weeks for planning and processing.

Department and School Business or Administrative Leaders are responsible for notifying Payroll of final relocation payments by vendor. Invoices are available in Workday or by emailing HouseholdGoodMoves@umd.edu.

Under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, household moving expenses are generally no longer tax-deductible. Moving expenses paid directly by the University to a moving vendor on behalf of an employee are considered taxable income and will be reported on the employee's W-2.

Moves requiring storage and subsequent transportation of household goods from local storage to the final destination must be coordinated through FM Special Services.

Household Move Team
HouseholdGoodMoves@umd.edu

For additional guidance, refer to the University Policy on Payment of Moving Expenses.

• The service request must be initiated by a UMD Departmental or School Business or Administrative Leader, or an authorized team member acting on their behalf.
• The formal University approval process must be initiated and the required approvals obtained before moving services are authorized or scheduled.
• Notify the department or faculty office and the appropriate University Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk (ESSR) contacts as soon as the move is planned.
• For a laboratory moving into new space, review the UMD Laboratory Safety resources and submit the applicable notification.
• For a laboratory being vacated, submit the required Vacating Laboratory Notification Form and checklist at least 30 days before the planned final move-out date.
• Coordinate moving quotes, equipment transportation, building access, and scheduling with FM Logistical Services and the appropriate service providers.

Important: A laboratory moving quote or service request does not replace departmental authorization, University approval, or required ESSR safety clearances.

Coordinate with ESSR to identify and complete applicable requirements for:

• Chemical safety and hazardous materials.
• Biological safety and regulated biological materials.
• Radiation safety and radioactive materials.
• Hazardous and regulated waste disposal.
• Applicable research permits, approvals, and material transfer requirements.

Relevant UMD resources:

• Laboratory Safety
• Biological Safety
• Radiation Safety
• Chemical Safety

Do not move regulated materials until the applicable safety, authorization, packaging, and transportation requirements have been confirmed.

• Review and update chemical, biological material, equipment, and asset inventories as applicable.
• Identify materials to be transferred, retained, returned, or disposed of.
• Arrange hazardous waste disposal through ESSR Environmental Affairs.
• Coordinate decontamination, equipment preparation, and required laboratory move-out inspections.
• Confirm that the destination laboratory has appropriate utilities, ventilation, safety equipment, and required infrastructure before operations resume.

• Arrange packing, transportation, installation, and recommissioning of specialized laboratory equipment.
• Coordinate large or heavy equipment moves through FM Special Services.
• Use qualified service providers for equipment requiring specialized disconnection, handling, calibration, or installation.
• Ensure chemicals, biological materials, radioactive materials, cryogenic substances, and temperature-sensitive samples are handled and transported according to applicable requirements.
• For equipment-handling and relocation best practices, see Armstrong Scientific Transport's Laboratory Relocation Services.

• Confirm the approved move schedule, vendor responsibilities, access arrangements, and transportation requirements.
• Coordinate the transfer of equipment and materials to minimize disruption to research operations.
• Maintain appropriate documentation of equipment, materials, and transfers.
• Ensure applicable safety and regulatory requirements are met throughout the move.

• Standard laboratory moves: Plan for approximately 6–12 weeks.
• Complex laboratory moves involving hazardous materials or specialized equipment: Allow 16 weeks or longer when necessary.
• Vacating laboratories: Submit the applicable notification at least 30 days before the planned final move-out date.
• International laboratory moves: Allow at least eight weeks, with additional time as required for regulatory clearances and specialized transportation.

These timelines are planning estimates and do not replace specific University safety, regulatory, approval, or vendor scheduling requirements.

Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk (ESSR)

• ESSR Contact Directory
• Laboratory Safety
• Environmental Affairs and Waste Disposal