B-136281, AUG. 1, 1958

B-136281, AUG. 1, 1958

TO HONORABLE FRANKLIN FLOETE, ADMINISTRATOR, GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION:

YOUR LETTER OF MAY 22, 1958, REQUESTS PERMISSION TO DISCONTINUE RECORDING AND REPORTING OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 1311 OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ACT, 1955, 68 STAT. 830, 31 U.S.C. 200, BASED UPON CERTAIN SUPPLEMENTAL FREIGHT VOUCHERS.

THE VOUCHERS REPRESENT CLAIMS BY CARRIERS FOR FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FURNISHED FOR THE ACCOUNT OF THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. THEY ARE FILED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION PURSUANT TO 5 GAO- 6020.40 FOR TRANSMISSION TO THE TRANSPORTATION DIVISION, GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE, FOR ADJUDICATION AND SETTLEMENT, OR FORWARDED DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE IN WHICH CASE THEY ARE REFERRED TO YOUR AGENCY FOR REPORT.

IN SUPPORT OF THIS REQUEST YOU STATE THAT THE VOUCHERS INVOLVE QUESTIONS OF CORRECT RATES AND RESULT EITHER FROM ALLEGED MISQUOTATION BY CARRIERS OF RATES IN THE SUBMISSION OF THEIR VOUCHERS, OR FROM DISALLOWANCES TAKEN BY OUR OFFICE IN THE POST-AUDIT THEREOF. FURTHER, THAT BECAUSE OF THE RATE TECHNICALITIES INVOLVED, YOUR AGENCY IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE MERITS OF THE CLAIMS OR PREDICT OUR ACTION THEREON, AND THAT ADJUDICATION OF THE CLAIMS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE. THE EFFECT OF YOUR REQUEST WOULD BE TO DISCONTINUE RECORDING AND REPORTING SUCH VOUCHERS AS OBLIGATIONS AND TO ESTABLISH THEM AS SUCH, IF NEED BE, AFTER WE EFFECT SETTLEMENT THEREOF.

IN VIEW OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN YOUR LETTER, AND CONSIDERING THAT LIABILITY ON THE VOUCHERS MAY NOT REASONABLY BE ADMINISTRATIVELY ASCERTAINED, WE WILL NOT OBJECT TO DISCONTINUANCE OF THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF INCLUDING THE AMOUNTS OF SUCH SUPPLEMENTAL FREIGHT VOUCHERS IN SECTION 1311 OBLIGATION REPORTS AND, IN LIEU THEREOF, ESTABLISHING OBLIGATIONS THEREUNDER AFTER THE VOUCHERS HAVE BEEN ADJUDICATED BY US. ..END :