B-160548, APR 10, 1972
Highlights
IT IS SUGGESTED THAT CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO A PLAN RECOMMENDED ON PAGES 62 TO 65 OF THE JOINT AGENCY TRANSPORTATION STUDY (JATS) FOR THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT OF AIRLINE TICKET CHARGES PROCURED BY TELETICKETING FACILITIES OR THROUGH A COMBINED AIRLINE TICKET OFFICE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT NASA CAN ACHIEVE EVEN GREATER SAVINGS BY ADAPTING THE PLAN RECOMMENDED IN THE JATS. WHICH PROCEDURE WAS APPROVED ON A TEST BASIS FOR USE AT NASA'S HEADQUARTERS BY OUR LETTER OF JULY 9. THE ATO IS GIVEN A NASA FORM 154 WHICH IS RETURNED WITH THE REQUESTED TICKET OR RESERVATION. THE TICKET OR RESERVATION IS TURNED OVER TO THE TRAVELER UPON THE PRESENTATION OF TWO COPIES OF THE PROPERLY AUTHENTICATED TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION.
B-160548, APR 10, 1972
TRANSPORTATION - GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS - IMPROVED METHODS OF PROCESSING CONCERNING A REQUEST FOR PERMISSION TO CONTINUE INDEFINITELY AND TO INSTALL IN OTHER NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) INSTALLATIONS A PROCEDURE FOR ELIMINATING THE REPETITIOUS PREPARATION OF GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF AIR TRANSPORTATION. THE COMP. GEN. HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE CONTINUED USE OF THE TEST PROCEDURE OR ITS EXPANSION TO OTHER NASA INSTALLATIONS. HOWEVER, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO A PLAN RECOMMENDED ON PAGES 62 TO 65 OF THE JOINT AGENCY TRANSPORTATION STUDY (JATS) FOR THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT OF AIRLINE TICKET CHARGES PROCURED BY TELETICKETING FACILITIES OR THROUGH A COMBINED AIRLINE TICKET OFFICE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT NASA CAN ACHIEVE EVEN GREATER SAVINGS BY ADAPTING THE PLAN RECOMMENDED IN THE JATS.
TO DR. JAMES C. FLETCHER:
IN A LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1971, FILE BFH, MR. H. FRANK HANN, DIRECTOR, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DIVISION OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION, REQUESTS PERMISSION TO CONTINUE INDEFINITELY AND TO INSTALL IN OTHER NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) INSTALLATIONS A PROCEDURE FOR ELIMINATING THE REPETITIOUS PREPARATION OF GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF AIR TRANSPORTATION, WHICH PROCEDURE WAS APPROVED ON A TEST BASIS FOR USE AT NASA'S HEADQUARTERS BY OUR LETTER OF JULY 9, 1970, B- 160548.
UNDER THE APPROVED TEST PROCEDURE, THE NASA TRAVEL OFFICE FURNISHES THE COMBINED AIR TRANSPORT OFFICE (ATO) AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH WEEK THE TRANSPORTATION REQUEST NUMBER ASSIGNED TO COVER TICKETS TO BE ISSUED DURING THAT WEEK. FOR EACH RESERVATION OR TICKET REQUESTED, THE ATO IS GIVEN A NASA FORM 154 WHICH IS RETURNED WITH THE REQUESTED TICKET OR RESERVATION. THE TICKET OR RESERVATION IS TURNED OVER TO THE TRAVELER UPON THE PRESENTATION OF TWO COPIES OF THE PROPERLY AUTHENTICATED TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION. AT THE END OF EACH WEEK THE ATO IS FURNISHED A TRANSPORTATION REQUEST (SF 1169) COVERING ALL TRAVEL FOR WHICH THE ATO HAS ISSUED TICKETS DURING THAT WEEK, SHOWING THE NUMBER OF TICKETS USED AND THE TOTAL COST. THE PUBLIC VOUCHER FOR TRANSPORTATION OF PASSENGERS (SF 1171) IS SUBMITTED BY ATO TO NASA AT THE SAME TIME THEIR AUDITOR COUPONS ARE SUBMITTED TO THE AIRLINES' CENTRAL BILLING POINT.
OUR LETTER OF JULY 9, 1970, B-160548, APPROVED A TEST OF THE SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF AIR TRANSPORTATION FOR A PERIOD UP TO ONE YEAR WITH A JOINT EVALUATION BY THIS OFFICE AND BY NASA AT OR NEAR THE END OF THE TEST PERIOD. IN THE LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 30, THE FOLLOWING SAVINGS AND OTHER BENEFITS RESULTING FROM THE TEST ARE REPORTED:
SAVINGS
8,218 FEWER TR'S PREPARED SAVING $ 205
TR PREPARATION - 400 MAN-HOURS 1,500
80% NORMAL UNUSED TICKET REFUNDS $1,200
ELIMINATED SAVING 384 MAN-HOURS
1,560 MAN-HOURS BY ELIMINATING 6,000
ACCRUING OF EACH TR
100 MAN-HOURS FILING AND STORING TR'S 400
APPROXIMATE TOTAL ANNUAL SAVINGS $9,305
OTHER BENEFITS
1. THE TIME REQUIRED TO PAY CARRIERS WAS DECREASED BY ABOUT 60%.
2. OBLIGATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH TR'S WERE FINALIZED IN HALF THE TIME FORMERLY REQUIRED.
3. FEWER ERRORS IN TICKETS AND THE ACCOUNTING THEREFORE WERE EXPERIENCED.
4. BETTER CONTROL (DATA SHOWING ACTUAL VS. PROJECTED COSTS) OF STATUS OF TRAVEL FUNDS BY ORGANIZATIONAL ELEMENTS.
OUR OFFICE HAS ENCOUNTERED NO SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IN THE AUDIT OF THE NASA ACCOUNTS INVOLVED IN THIS TEST AND CERTAIN MINOR PROBLEMS THAT AROSE INITIALLY IN CONNECTION WITH THE DOCUMENTATION OF THE PAYMENT RECORDS WERE SATISFACTORILY RESOLVED. WE THEREFORE HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THE CONTINUED USE OF THE TEST PROCEDURE OR ITS EXPANSION TO OTHER NASA INSTALLATIONS.
HOWEVER, WE SUGGEST THAT, PRIOR TO ADOPTING SUCH PROCEDURE ON A PERMANENT AND EXPANDED BASIS, NASA GIVE CONSIDERATION TO THE FEASIBILITY OF ADOPTING THE PLAN, RECOMMENDED ON PAGES 62 TO 65 OF THE JOINT AGENCY TRANSPORTATION STUDY (JATS) FOR THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT OF AIRLINE TICKET CHARGES PROCURED BY TELETICKETING FACILITIES OR THROUGH A COMBINED AIRLINE TICKET OFFICE. PHOTO COPIES OF THE PERTINENT PAGES OF THE JATS REPORT ARE ENCLOSED. THE TEST OF THE TELETICKETING PLAN HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION AND WE UNDERSTAND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ADOPTED THE SYSTEM FOR ITS WASHINGTON OFFICES ON FEBRUARY 1, 1972; THAT GODDARD FLIGHT CENTER OF YOUR ADMINISTRATION WILL START USING THE SYSTEM ON APRIL 1, 1972, AND THAT THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING ADOPTION OF THE SYSTEM:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND TERMINAL SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ACTION.
WE FEEL THAT IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT NASA CAN ACHIEVE EVEN GREATER SAVINGS BY USING THE PLAN RECOMMENDED IN THE JATS STUDY RATHER THAN THE NASA TEST PROCEDURE.
SHOULD THE JATS PLAN BE UNDERTAKEN BY NASA IN COOPERATION WITH THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING A TEST PERIOD IF THOUGHT DESIRABLE, WE WOULD APPRECIATE A REPORT AS TO THE RESULTS THEREOF.