B-165235, OCTOBER 4, 1968, 48 COMP. GEN. 185

B-165235, OCTOBER 4, 1968, 48 COMP. GEN. 185

OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES - TRAINING - EXPENSES - MEALS AND ROOM AT HEADQUARTERS A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE COORDINATOR OF A SEMINAR FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAINING EMPLOYEES OF THE INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICE WHO PAID THE COST OF MEALS FOR NON-GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE GUEST SPEAKERS AND THE EMPLOYEES OF THE SERVICE ATTENDING THE SEMINAR CONDUCTED AT HEADQUARTERS MAY BE REIMBURSED FOR THE EXPENSE INCURRED UPON DETERMINATION BY THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY THAT THE COST OF THE MEALS FURNISHED NON-GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES IS AUTHORIZED UNDER 5 U.S.C. 4109; THAT ONE SERVICE EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATED AS A SEMINAR SPEAKER; AND THAT THE BUSINESS OF THE SEMINAR WAS CONDUCTED DURING MEALTIME REQUIRING THE ATTENDANCE OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES. PURSUANT TO SECTION 6.7 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, ANY PER DIEM PAYMENTS AUTHORIZED SHOULD BE REDUCED.

TO SALLY N. CROSS, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OCTOBER 4, 1968:

WE REFER TO YOUR LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 10, 1968, REQUESTING OUR DECISION CONCERNING THE PROPRIETY OF CERTIFYING FOR PAYMENT A TRAVEL VOUCHER TRANSMITTED THEREWITH IN FAVOR OF MR. MARTIN KRIESBERG FOR $110.50.

MR. KRIESBERG APPARENTLY HAD BEEN DESIGNATED TO COORDINATE AND CONDUCT A SEMINAR ON INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT TO BE HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, ADULT EDUCATION CENTER, DURING THE PERIOD MARCH 18 TO 22, 1968. THE AMOUNTS CLAIMED ON THE VOUCHER REPRESENT THE COST OF MEALS PAID BY HIM ON BEHALF OF GUEST SPEAKERS (NON-GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES) AT THE SEMINAR AND CERTAIN EMPLOYEES OF THE INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICE ATTENDING SUCH SEMINAR. THE VOUCHER IN QUESTION HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICE AND WILL BE CHARGED TO A WORKING FUND MADE UP OF MONIES ADVANCED BY THE AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EXPENSES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICE. WE UNDERSTAND FROM AN INFORMAL DISCUSSION OF THE MATTER THAT THE SEMINAR IS CONDUCTED FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF TRAINING EMPLOYEES OF THE INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICE.

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT THE EXPENSES OF FURNISHING THE MEALS TO THE NON-GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE SPEAKERS WOULD BE AUTHORIZED UNDER 5 U.S.C. 4109 AS AN EXPENSE OF CONDUCTING THE TRAINING. MOREOVER, IT APPEARS FROM THE INFORMATION PRESENTED THAT ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ADDRESSED A DINNER AND EVENING SESSION SO THAT HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE MEAL WAS A NECESSARY INCIDENT TO PROVIDING THE TRAINING. FURTHER, IT APPEARS THAT A PORTION OF THE BUSINESS OF THE SEMINAR WAS CONDUCTED DURING THE MEAL SESSIONS AND THAT IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE FULL BENEFIT OF THE SEMINAR TRAINING ATTENDANCE OF THE OTHER EMPLOYEES AT THE MEAL SESSIONS MAY HAVE BEEN NECESSARY. IF AN ADMINISTRATIVE DETERMINATION TO THIS EFFECT IS MADE BY AN APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY IN THE INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICE THAN MR. KRIESBERG ALSO MAY BE REIMBURSED THE COST OF THE MEALS FURNISHED TO ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES IN QUESTION. CF. 39 COMP. GEN. 119. IF ANY OF THE EMPLOYEES INVOLVED WERE IN A PER DIEM STATUS, AN APPROPRIATE REDUCTION IN PER DIEM SHOULD BE MADE UNDER SECTION 6.7 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS.

THE VOUCHER WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING CONDITIONS.