Request for Review of Additional GSA Settlement Actions

A firm requested that GAO review settlement actions taken by the General Services Administration (GSA) in connection with shipments of government property on two government bills of lading (GBL). GSA actions were both based on the released valuation rates in one of the firm's published tenders. The firm contended that the rates in the tender used by GSA were not applicable to the transported commodities because of the absence of any notation on the GBL's as to their released value. GAO found that, because the transported items were listed in a specific section of the GBL's which is covered by federal regulations relating to released valuation, the government was relieved of the requirement to declare the property's value. Accordingly, the GSA actions were sustained.