B-103315, OCT. 25, 1968

B-103315, OCT. 25, 1968

TO MR. SECRETARY:

PLEASE REFER TO LETTER OF OCTOBER 18, 1968, FROM ROBERT C. MCCONNELL, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, IN WHICH REQUEST IS MADE FOR AUTHORITY TO DEPART FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF TITLE V OF THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE MANUAL FOR THE GUIDANCE OF FEDERAL AGENCIES CONCERNING THE USE OF GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS (GTRS). SECTION 2016 OF TITLE V PRESCRIBES STANDARD FORMS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROCUREMENT OF PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION SERVICE FOR THE ACCOUNT OF THE UNITED STATES.

YOU EXPLAINED THAT GOVERNMENT FUNDS WILL BE USED TO DEFRAY THE TRAVEL AND OTHER EXPENSES OF NON-FEDERAL PARTICIPANTS INVITED TO A SEMINAR IN WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, NOVEMBER 13-15, 1968. THE SEMINAR IS SAID TO BE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE COMMITTEE ON MULTIPLE USE OF THE COASTAL ZONE, NATIONAL COUNCIL ON MARINE RESOURCES AND ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT. FIFTY OR MORE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE TRAVELING TO AND FROM THE SEMINAR.

YOU SAY THAT IT WILL GREATLY SIMPLIFY EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION OF THIS SEMINAR IF AUTHORITY WERE GRANTED TO REIMBURSE THE NONFEDERAL INDIVIDUALS ATTENDING THE SEMINAR FOR THE ACTUAL COST OF TRANSPORTATION RATHER THAN TO SEND EACH ONE A GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUEST IN ADVANCE. IN THE LIMITED TIME REMAINING YOU ANTICIPATE COMPLICATIONS THAT MAY BE AVOIDED IF THE PERSONS INVOLVED NEED NOT USE GTRS. IF GTRS ARE REQUIRED IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO ASCERTAIN FROM EACH OF THE NON-FEDERAL PARTICIPANTS, WHO APPARENTLY ARE LOCATED AT WIDELY SCATTERED PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES, HIS MODE AND ROUTE OF TRAVEL. AS YOU POINT OUT, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE GTRS WOULD NOT BE FURNISHED TO SOME OF THE TRAVELERS IN TIME. YOU RECOGNIZE THAT THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION TAX WOULD BE APPLICABLE TO THE TRAVEL INVOLVED IN THE ABSENCE OF GTRS.

BASED ON WHAT YOU HAVE STATED IN YOUR LETTER, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THE SEMINAR IS TO BE HELD A FEW WEEKS HENCE, WE BELIEVE THERE IS JUSTIFICATION FOR DEPARTURE IN THIS INSTANCE FROM OUR REQUIREMENT THAT GTRS BE USED WHEN THE PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES ARE FOR THE ACCOUNT OF AND PAYABLE BY THE UNITED STATES. WE THEREFORE CONCUR IN YOUR PROPOSAL FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE TRAVEL EXPENSES INVOLVED, INCLUDING THE TRANSPORTATION COSTS, WITHOUT REQUIRING THE USE OF GTRS, TO THE NON- FEDERAL INDIVIDUALS ATTENDING THE SEMINAR. OF COURSE, GENERALLY, WHERE TIME PERMITS, WE BELIEVE THAT MAXIMUM USE SHOULD BE MADE OF GTRS TO OBTAIN THE MOST ECONOMICAL MEANS OF COMMON CARRIER TRANSPORTATION FOR THE ACCOUNT OF THE GOVERNMENT.