A-24222, OCT. 9, 1961
Highlights
IN WHICH WE WERE ASKED FOR AUTHORITY TO DEVIATE FROM PRESCRIBED BILLING PROCEDURES IN CONNECTION WITH COMMERCIAL EXPRESS SHIPMENTS RECEIVED BY YOUR DEPARTMENT. ALTHOUGH THE TRANSPORTATION COSTS ON MOST OF SUCH SHIPMENTS ARE LESS THAN $10. UNDER EXISTING PROCEDURES EACH EXPRESS RECEIPT IS REQUIRED TO BE CONVERTED TO A GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING. IT IS PROPOSED TO ISSUE PERIODICALLY ONE GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING ON WHICH WILL BE LISTED ALL COMMERCIAL EXPRESS RECEIPTS OF A SINGLE BUREAU OF YOUR DEPARTMENT WHICH ARE PAYABLE FROM THE SAME APPROPRIATION. PARTICULARLY IN INSTANCES WHERE THE SHIPMENTS ARE SMALL AND NUMEROUS. YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO USE COMMERCIAL DOCUMENTS FOR EXPRESS SHIPMENTS RECEIVED BY YOUR DEPARTMENT IN WASHINGTON ON WHICH THE TRANSPORTATION CHARGES DO NOT EXCEED $50 PER SHIPMENT.
A-24222, OCT. 9, 1961
TO THE SECRETARY OF LABOR:
WE REFER TO THE LETTER OF JULY 17, 1961, FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, IN WHICH WE WERE ASKED FOR AUTHORITY TO DEVIATE FROM PRESCRIBED BILLING PROCEDURES IN CONNECTION WITH COMMERCIAL EXPRESS SHIPMENTS RECEIVED BY YOUR DEPARTMENT.
THE LETTER OF JULY 17, 1961, REPORTS THAT DURING 1960, YOUR DEPARTMENT RECEIVED IN WASHINGTON APPROXIMATELY 460 EXPRESS SHIPMENTS. ALTHOUGH THE TRANSPORTATION COSTS ON MOST OF SUCH SHIPMENTS ARE LESS THAN $10, UNDER EXISTING PROCEDURES EACH EXPRESS RECEIPT IS REQUIRED TO BE CONVERTED TO A GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING. RATHER THAN CONTINUE THIS PROCEDURE, IT IS PROPOSED TO ISSUE PERIODICALLY ONE GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING ON WHICH WILL BE LISTED ALL COMMERCIAL EXPRESS RECEIPTS OF A SINGLE BUREAU OF YOUR DEPARTMENT WHICH ARE PAYABLE FROM THE SAME APPROPRIATION.
WE APPRECIATE THE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ATTENDANT UPON COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF CHAPTER 3000, TITLE 5, GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL, PERTAINING TO THE ISSUANCE OF GOVERNMENT BILLS OF LADING, PARTICULARLY IN INSTANCES WHERE THE SHIPMENTS ARE SMALL AND NUMEROUS. ACCORDINGLY, YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO USE COMMERCIAL DOCUMENTS FOR EXPRESS SHIPMENTS RECEIVED BY YOUR DEPARTMENT IN WASHINGTON ON WHICH THE TRANSPORTATION CHARGES DO NOT EXCEED $50 PER SHIPMENT.
THIS AUTHORIZATION IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
1. THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT OBTAIN FROM THE RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY AN AGREEMENT TO THIS PROCEDURE IN WRITING. THE AGREEMENT SHOULD ALSO CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING PROVISION:
"THE SHIPMENTS COVERED BY THIS AGREEMENT CONSIST OF PROPERTY OF THE UNITED STATES AND ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE STANDARD FORM OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT OF THE CARRIER FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF SHIPMENTS FOR THE UNITED STATES ON GOVERNMENT BILLS OF LADING.'
2. THAT THE CARRIER'S BILLS FOR CHARGES WILL BE SUBMITTED ON STANDARD FORM NO. 1113, PUBLIC VOUCHER FOR TRANSPORTATION CHARGES, SUPPORTED BY THE ORIGINAL COMMERCIAL EXPRESS RECEIPTS SHOWING THE RECEIPT OF THESHIPMENTS BY THE CONSIGNEE, AND A SINGLE GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING ISSUED TO COVER THE GROUP OF EXPRESS RECEIPTS, AS PROPOSED BY YOUR DEPARTMENT.