B-121143, OCT. 14, 1963

B-121143, OCT. 14, 1963

TO MR. GABRIEL REINER:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 2, 1963, IN WHICH YOU REQUEST THAT WE MODIFY OUR RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF TRAVEL AGENCIES FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION.

YOU STATE THAT SINCE RECEIPT OF OUR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 14, 1963, YOU HAVE CONCLUDED THAT AS FAR AS DOMESTIC TRANSPORTATION IS CONCERNED, AS WELL AS TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AND MEXICO, IT WOULD NOT BE FEASIBLE FOR A TRAVEL AGENCY TO HANDLE THIS BUSINESS AS IT WOULD BE BETTER SERVED BY THE INDIVIDUAL OR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT INVOLVED. YOU STATE FURTHER THAT YOU ARE NOW INTERESTED ONLY IN SERVICING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS.

THE PROVISIONS OF OUR POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL RELATING TO DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PROCURED FOR THE ACCOUNT OF THE UNITED STATES ARE DESIGNED TO SET FORTH, WITHIN THE INTENT OF APPLICABLE LAW, UNIFORM PRINCIPLES FOR APPLICATION BY THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR RECOGNITION BY THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES IN THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS.

THE POLICY REGARDING USE OF TRAVEL AGENCIES WAS DEVELOPED AFTER INTENSIVE STUDIES, AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE WE HAVE HAD IN ITS APPLICATION HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS BASIC SOUNDNESS. WITH RELATIVELY FEW EXCEPTIONS, GOVERNMENT OFFICES THAT PROCURE PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION HAVE A SPECIALIZED STAFF, EVEN IF REPRESENTED ONLY BY THE PART-TIME SERVICES OF ONE EMPLOYEE, TO PREPARE, ISSUE AND CONTROL TRANSPORTATION DOCUMENTS, PREPARE EXPENSE VOUCHERS FOR TRAVELERS, INTERPRET AND ADVISE CONCERNING GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AND PERFORM VARIOUS OTHER DUTIES CONNECTED WITH THE PROCUREMENT AND USE OF COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. THE DIRECT PROCUREMENT OF TRAVEL SERVICES IS ONLY ONE PHASE OF THE TRANSPORTATION WORK IN THESE OFFICES, AND ONE THAT IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF AN OVERALL TRANSPORTATION SERVICE FUNCTION. A MINOR DECREASE IN THE DIRECT PROCUREMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, BY ELIMINATING THE INTERNATIONAL AS YOU SUGGEST, WOULD NOT YIELD SIGNIFICANT ADMINISTRATIVE ECONOMIES UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE USE OF TRAVEL AGENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL WOULD STILL PRESENT THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN OUR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 14, 1963, REGARDING CONTROL OVER CLASSES OF SERVICE FURNISHED AND SPECIAL RATES AVAILABLE, UNIFORMITY OF BILLING, VERIFICATION OF CHARGES, REFUNDS ON UNUSED TICKETS, ETC.

YOU STATE THAT YOU FEEL THE PRESENT REGULATIONS ARE DISCRIMINATORY SINCE "THEY DO ALLOW AGENCIES ABROAD TO BOOK SUCH TRAVEL, WHEREAS AMERICAN TRAVEL AGENCIES ARE NOT ALLOWED BY THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT TO DO SIMILAR WORK HERE.' IN ARRIVING AT THIS POINT OF VIEW, YOU FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE REGULATIONS IMPOSE SEVERE RESTRICTIONS RELATIVE TO THE USE OF TRAVEL AGENCIES OVERSEAS IN THAT SUCH MAY BE UTILIZED ONLY UNDER UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS AT POINTS AND IN REMOTE AREAS WHERE THERE ARE NO DIRECT CARRIER SERVICING FACILITIES REASONABLY AVAILABLE. THESE CONSTITUTE AN INSIGNIFICANT PART OF THE OVERALL TRAFFIC VOLUME AND THE SITUATIONS INVOLVED WOULD NOT OBTAIN IN METROPOLITAN AREAS.

ACCORDINGLY, FOR THE REASONS ABOVE-STATED AND THOSE OUTLINED IN OUR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 14, 1963, WE FIND NO EVIDENCE OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN THE SITUATION SINCE THE LAST REVISION IN APRIL 1957 AND, THEREFORE, DO NOT BELIEVE THAT FURTHER CHANGE IN 5 GAO 2013.20 WOULD BE WARRANTED.

WE DO NOT FEEL THAT ANY USEFUL PURPOSE WOULD BE SERVED BY A PERSONAL DISCUSSION OF THE MATTER. IF YOU SO DESIRE IT, HOWEVER, PERSONNEL OF OUR TRANSPORTATION DIVISION WILL BE AVAILABLE TO DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH YOU IF YOU WILL GIVE US REASONABLE ADVANCE NOTICE OF THE TIME AND DATE OF YOUR ARRIVAL.