B-161631, AUG 4, 1967

B-161631, AUG 4, 1967

PRECIS-UNAVAILABLE

HELEN L. SWENSON, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE:

YOUR LETTER OF MAY 25, 1967, ENCLOSING VOUCHER FOR $468.50 IN FAVOR OF ALLEN C. BJERGO, A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THE FEDERAL EXTENSION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, UNDER A PARTICIPATING AGENCY SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH THE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, REQUESTS OUR DECISION WHETHER UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES DISCLOSED BY THE RECORD THE VOUCHER MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT. WE ASSUME THAT THE VOUCHER WAS SUBMITTED UNDER 31 U.S.C. 82D IN YOUR CAPACITY OF AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER.

THE RECORD SHOWS THAT ON JULY 27, 1966, MR. BJERGO WAS TRANSFERRED FROM WHITEHALL, MONTANA, TO VIETNAM. HIS TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION AUTHORIZED THE SHIPMENT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS NOT TO EXCEED 2,835 POUNDS NET, SUBJECT TO AN AGGREGATE WEIGHT LIMITATION OF 9,445 POUNDS NET ON THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS NONTEMPORARILY STORED OR SHIPPED.

IN LIEU OF STORING THE GOODS NOT TRANSPORTED TO VIETNAM MR. BJERGO HAD SUCH GOODS TRANSPORTED FROM HARRISON, MONTANA, TO FERGUS FALLS, MINNESOTA, WHERE THEY WERE STORED BY RELATIVES APPARENTLY WITHOUT COST TO THE GOVERNMENT. THE EMPLOYEE NOW CLAIMS, IN LIEU OF NONTEMPORARY STORAGE CHARGES, REIMBURSEMENT OF $468.50 REPRESENTING THE COST OF TRANSPORTING 3,890 POUNDS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS FROM HARRISON, MONTANA, TO FERGUS FALLS, MINNESOTA.

YOUR LETTER SAYS THAT MR. BJERGO HAS DETERMINED THAT THE SHIPMENT AND STORAGE WITH HIS RELATIVES IS LESS EXPENSIVE THAN NONTEMPORARY STORAGE AT OR NEAR HIS FORMER OFFICIAL STATION FOR THE 24-MONTH PERIOD OF HIS VIETNAM TOUR AND YOU ASK WHETHER HE MAY BE REIMBURSED ON THAT BASIS.

WE FIND NO PROVISION IN THE UNIFORM STATE/AID/USIA, FOREIGN SERVICE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, SPECIFICALLY PRECLUDING THE USE OF CONSTRUCTIVE STORAGE COSTS IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES PRESENTED. THEREFORE, IF THE COST OF CONSTRUCTIVE NONTEMPORARY STORAGE OF THE GOODS IN QUESTION AT OR ABOUT MR. BJERGO'S FORMER OFFICIAL STATION FOR A PERIOD OF 24 MONTHS IS ADMINISTRATIVELY DETERMINED TO BE EQUAL TO OR IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT CLAIMED BY HIM FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF THE GOODS TO MINNESOTA WE WILL INTERPOSE NO OBJECTION TO THE CERTIFICATION OF THE VOUCHER IN THE AMOUNT CLAIMED OR IN THE AMOUNT OF THE COST OF CONSTRUCTIVE STORAGE, WHICHEVER IS THE LESSER.

WE WOULD LIKE, HOWEVER, TO POINT OUT THAT UPON COMPLETION OF MR. BJERGO'S TOUR IN VIETNAM AND HIS TRANSFER TO A STATION IN THE UNITED STATES, A QUESTION MAY ARISE WHETHER HE WOULD BE ENTITLED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE TO MOVE GOODS NOW STORED IN MINNESOTA FROM THAT POINT OR FROM HIS FORMER OFFICIAL STATION.

THE VOUCHER TRANSMITTED WITH YOUR LETTER IS RETURNED HEREWITH AND, SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION OF CONSTRUCTIVE STORAGE CHARGES, MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT IN ACCORD WITH THE FOREGOING.