Payment Processing (Coast Guard)

Pursuant to an agency request, GAO reviewed the Coast Guard's proposed streamlining of its voucher examination program. GAO noted that: (1) for small purchases under $2,500 made with a government credit card, it had no objection to the Coast Guard retaining supporting receipts and documents at the field offices provided that the employees responsible for maintaining the documents are familiar with required retention and storage procedures and are aware of the possibility that the documentation for some payments will need to be forwarded to the Coast Guard's Finance Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, for review or audit; and (2) statistical sampling procedures conducted after payment are necessary and should be continued, since they provide a critical control in ensuring that the system is operating as intended, but the sample size and the frequency of the procedure can be modified based on the results of prior samples.