B-163758, MAR. 14, 1968
Highlights
HAVE INITIATED A JOINT AGENCY STUDY OF THE VARIOUS FUNCTIONS RELATED TO THE PROCUREMENT OF COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES BY THE CIVILIAN AGENCIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. I AM SURE THAT YOU WILL BE DEEPLY INTERESTED IN OUR OBJECTIVES. THE STUDY WILL REVIEW THE PROCESS OF PROCURING. ALTERNATIVE METHODS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR SIMPLIFYING THE PROCUREMENT FORMS AND PROCEDURES. WE WILL. WE WILL STUDY THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DRAWING THESE FUNCTIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION BILLS INTO ONE OR MORE CENTRAL OFFICES. WE WILL ALSO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF GREATER USE OF CASH PURCHASING AND OTHER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR PASSENGER TICKETS. THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY IS TO DEVELOP A MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM GENERALLY FOR TRANSPORTATION PROCUREMENT.
B-163758, MAR. 14, 1968
TRANSPORTATION - PROCUREMENT STUDY LETTER TO HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES REGARDING INITIATION OF JOINT AGENCY STUDY OF VARIOUS FUNCTIONS RELATED TO PROCUREMENT OF COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES OF CIVILIAN AGENCIES.
TO THE HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES CONCERNED:
THE BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT, THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION AND THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE, UNDER SPONSORSHIP OF THE JOINT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, HAVE INITIATED A JOINT AGENCY STUDY OF THE VARIOUS FUNCTIONS RELATED TO THE PROCUREMENT OF COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES BY THE CIVILIAN AGENCIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY ENCOMPASSES ALL CIVIL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES, AND I AM SURE THAT YOU WILL BE DEEPLY INTERESTED IN OUR OBJECTIVES.
THE STUDY WILL REVIEW THE PROCESS OF PROCURING, PAYING, AUDITING, AND SETTLING ACCOUNTS WITH CARRIERS FOR FREIGHT AND PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES USED BY THE CIVILIAN AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT. AMONG THE OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY, ALTERNATIVE METHODS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR SIMPLIFYING THE PROCUREMENT FORMS AND PROCEDURES, AND FOR CENTRALIZING AND EXPEDITING TO A GREATER DEGREE THE PAYMENT OF CIVILIAN AGENCY TRANSPORTATION BILLS.
WE WILL, FOR EXAMPLE, ANALYZE THE WIDESPREAD SYSTEM OF BILLING POINTS AND ACCOUNTING STATIONS AMONG THE CIVILIAN AGENCIES, AND WE WILL STUDY THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DRAWING THESE FUNCTIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION BILLS INTO ONE OR MORE CENTRAL OFFICES. WE WILL ALSO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF GREATER USE OF CASH PURCHASING AND OTHER SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR PASSENGER TICKETS, AND A WIDER USE OF COMMERCIAL TYPE FORMS AND PROCEDURES FOR FREIGHT SERVICES.
THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY IS TO DEVELOP A MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM GENERALLY FOR TRANSPORTATION PROCUREMENT, PAYMENT, AND AUDIT; AND, HOPEFULLY TO OBTAIN ECONOMIES FOR THE MUTUAL BENEFIT OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CARRIER INDUSTRY.
THE STUDY IS BEING CONDUCTED BY A MULTI-AGENCY WORKING GROUP STAFFED BY THE AGENCIES NAMED ABOVE AND SEVERAL OTHER LARGE AGENCIES, INCLUDING LIAISON REPRESENTATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. MR. W. L. JOHNSON, JR., ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, IS CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKING GROUP.
THE STUDY GROUP PLANS TO BEGIN THE STUDY ABOUT MARCH 18, 1968. THEY WILL BE CONTRACTING YOU FROM TIME TO TIME THEREAFTER FOR INFORMATION, AND TO DISCUSS THE FEASIBILITY OF CHANGES IN PROCUREMENT AND PAYMENT PROCEDURES THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED. I WOULD PERSONALLY APPRECIATE YOUR GIVING THIS GROUP YOUR COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE IN FURTHERING THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY, WHICH I AM SURE WILL BENEFIT ALL AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT.