Claim for Reimbursement of Household Goods Transportation Expenses

An employee of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms who was transferred to a new duty station appealed a Claims Group settlement that denied his claim for additional reimbursement of expenses associated with the shipment of his household goods. He received reimbursement for that shipment equal to the amount it cost to ship the goods under the actual expense method by a Government bill of lading (GBL), but he claimed reimbursement at the higher commuted rate. Under the actual expense method, the Government assumed the cost of the move, whereas under the commuted rate the employee made his own arrangements. The claimant declined to have his goods shipped by a General Services Administration (GSA) selected carrier. He received a letter informing him that, while they would allow him to move his goods under the commuted rate method, his reimbursement could not exceed the lowest rate quoted on the GSA cost comparison list. Since the claimant failed to explain his refusal to ship his goods by GBL, the Bureau denied his claim. The claimant responded to this denial by memorandum in which he explained that he had not used a GSA carrier because he was dissatisfied with one on a previous move and felt that he had more control if he paid the carrier himself. GAO held that, since the agency did not authorize and ship his goods, reimbursement of actual expenses was incorrect. The employee was entitled to reimbursement under the commuted rate system. Also, a fuel surcharge was not reimbursable since the commuted rate was intended as reimbursement for all transportation costs. Accordingly, the claim was determined under the commuted rate system, and the Claim's Group settlement was overruled.