COLA factors, incentive pay, and reimbursement of relocation expenses

I'm currently a GS 9 step 5 and after a great interview and some subtle clues from various sources, I'm fully expecting to get a tentative offer for a new position from another agency very shortly. The new position is very similar to my current job but a different series. If I remain at 9/5 in the new position it will be a significant reduction in base pay because of locality rates, but it would be marginally (about $200) more when considering COLA. Can I negotiate to start at a higher step so my base pay will not take a hit when I make the move and since COLA is always a varying number?

The new job was also posted with the description that the agency "may use certain incentives such as a relocation incentive or recruitment incentive currently offered by the Federal government, to attract high quality applicants." An earlier posting of this exact same job from six months earlier (that was presumably unfilled) did not have this wording. How negotiable are these incentives? My sense is that that the modified listing means that they really want to get this position filled. I'm tempted to ask for the max but don't want to overplay my hand.

One final caveat, this job was listed with, "Yes - You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy." Will this variable factor in with the negotiations over the other incentives? When this is listed, is it mostly just an automatic benefit that is a given because of a really remote job?

Really appreciate any insight on these matters. My current position didn't come with any of these incentives.