B-127999, MAY 28, 1958

B-127999, MAY 28, 1958

TO THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE:

WE HAVE CONSIDERED THE REQUEST OF MR. EDWARD B. KELLY, DIRECTOR, FISCAL POLICY AND PROCEDURE, OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, OF YOUR DEPARTMENT, BY LETTER OF FEBRUARY 15, 1956, FOR AUTHORITY TO DEPART FROM CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN OUR GENERAL REGULATIONS NO. 97- - REVISED.

IN A CONFERENCE WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR TRANSPORTATION DIVISION, MR. KELLY EXPLAINED THAT THE ARCTIC HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER, PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, RECEIVES MONTHLY APPROXIMATELY 50 SMALL AIR SHIPMENTS FROM TRAPPERS THROUGHOUT ALASKA. THESE SHIPMENTS CONSIST OF PORTIONS OF FROZEN WILD ANIMAL CARCASSES FOR BIOLOGICAL TESTING TO DETECT THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. SOME OF THE SHIPMENTS ARE SO SMALL THAT THEY ARE ASSESSED MINIMUM TRANSPORTATION CHARGES OF $1 OR $1.50. AT PRESENT, THE TRAPPERS ARE FURNISHED SETS OF GOVERNMENT BILLS OF LADING FOR USE IN MAKING THOSE SHIPMENTS, BUT MR. KELLY SUGGESTED THAT ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CARRIER WOULD BE BETTER ACHIEVED BY THE USE OF COMMERCIAL WAYBILLS WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF CONVERSION TO GOVERNMENT BILLS OF LADING, AS REQUIRED IN SECTION II, GENERAL REGULATIONS NO. 97--- REVISED. PRIOR TO THE TENDER OF THE PROPERTY TO THE CARRIERS, THE AIR WAYBILLS WOULD BE ENDORSED TO CHARACTERIZE THE SHIPMENTS AS GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE WAYBILLS AND COPIES WOULD CONFORM AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE TO THE DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO GOVERNMENT BILLS OF LADING. THE CARRIERS WOULD RENDER MONTHLY BILLINGS ON STANDARD FORM 1113, SUPPORTED BY THE ORIGINAL AIR WAYBILLS.

IN VIEW OF THE SITUATION AS EXPLAINED BY MR. KELLY, YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO USE COMMERCIAL SHIPPING DOCUMENTS FOR AIR CARRIAGE OF SMALL PORTIONS OF FROZEN WILD ANIMAL CARCASSES FROM POINTS IN ALASKA TO THE ARCTIC HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING:

1. THAT EACH AIR WAYBILL AND ALL COPIES THEREOF, PRIOR TO OR AT THE TIME OF TENDER OF THE SHIPMENT TO THE CARRIER, WILL BE SEPARATELY STAMPED OR IMPRINTED WITH THE LEGEND:

"THIS SHIPMENT CONSISTS OF PROPERTY OF THE UNITED STATES AND IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE STANDARD FORM OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING AND ANY APPLICABLE CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT WITH THE CARRIER FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF SHIPMENTS FOR THE UNITED STATES ON GOVERNMENT BILLS OF LADING.'

2. THAT DISTRIBUTION OF THE AIR WAYBILL AND COPIES WILL CONFORM AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE TO THE PATTERN ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 6, GENERAL REGULATIONS NO. 97--- REVISED, FOR DISTRIBUTION OF FORMS IN THE BASIC SETS OF GOVERNMENT BILLS OF LADING.

3. THAT THE CARRIERS' BILLS FOR CHARGES WILL BE SUBMITTED ON STANDARD FORM NO. 1113, PUBLIC VOUCHER FOR TRANSPORTATION CHARGES, SUPPORTED BY THE ORIGINAL COMMERCIAL AIR WAYBILLS AND A SHOWING OF THE RECEIPT OF THE SHIPMENTS BY THE CONSIGNEE.

4. THAT EACH BILL VOR CHARGES WILL NOT COVER MORE THAN 25 SEPARATE COMMERCIAL AIR WAYBILLS.