B-173802, OCT 18, 1971

B-173802, OCT 18, 1971

CIVILIAN PERSONNEL - MILEAGE ALLOWANCE - PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE DECISION ALLOWING PAYMENT OF A RESUBMITTED VOUCHER BY JOHN J. SOLHAN FOR $56 FOR MILEAGE ALLOWANCE INCIDENT TO TEMPORARY DUTY. ALTHOUGH CLAIMANT'S TRAVEL ORDERS CONTAINED A NOTATION AS FOLLOWS: "EMPLOYEE PREFERS TO DRIVE 'PERSONNEL' AUTO WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT 2 AUDITORS OCCUPY 1 VEHICLE WHEN AUDITING AT THE SAME LOCATION," THE NOTATION WAS REMOVED AT THE DIRECTION OF DCCA CHICAGO REGIONAL OFFICE. IN ACCORDANCE WITH JTR VOL. II C 6150, REIMBURSEMENT FOR 560 MILES AT 10 CENTS PER MILE IS PROPER.

TO MAJOR S. G. OROSCO:

WE REFER FURTHER TO YOUR LETTER OF JUNE 28, 1971, REFERENCE DCRI-FA DM, REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO THE ALLOWABILITY OF A "RESUBMISSION VOUCHER" FOR MR. JOHN J. SOLHAN FOR MILEAGE ALLOWANCE INCIDENT TO TEMPORARY DUTY DURING FEBRUARY 1971. YOUR LETTER WAS ASSIGNED PDTATAC CONTROL NO. 71-34 BY THE PER DIEM, TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCE COMMITTEE AND FORWARDED HERE ON AUGUST 5, 1971. THE SUBMITTED COPY OF TRAVEL ORDERS OF FEBRUARY 8, 1971, AUTHORIZING TEMPORARY DUTY FOR MR. SOLHAN STATES WITH RESPECT TO MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, "EMPLOYEE PREFERS TO DRIVE 'PERSONNEL' AUTO WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT 2 AUDITORS OCCUPY 1 VEHICLE WHEN AUDITING AT THE SAME LOCATION." MR. SOLHAN WAS REIMBURSED FOR PER DIEM ONLY ON MARCH 19, 1971. PRIOR TO SUBMISSION OF THE VOUCHER FOR THAT PAYMENT, THE TRAVEL APPROVING AUTHORITY AT DCAA, INDIANAPOLIS BRANCH OFFICE WAS ADVISED BY DCAA CHICAGO REGIONAL OFFICE THAT THE TRAVEL ORDER WAS PREPARED WRONG AND THE NOTATION QUOTED ABOVE SHOULD BE REMOVED AND THE ORDER SHOW THAT PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TO GOVERNMENT WITH RATE PER MILE OF 10 CENTS.

YOU POINT OUT THAT THIS ACCORDS WITH JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, VOLUME II C6150 WHICH PROVIDES IN PERTINENT PART AS FOLLOWS:

" *** TRAVEL BY PRIVATELY OWNED CONVEYANCE BY OWNER OR AS A PASSENGER MAY NOT BE DIRECTED, BUT THE USE OF SUCH MODE OF TRANSPORTATION MAY BE PERMITTED WHEN IT IS REQUESTED BY THE EMPLOYEE OR ENCOURAGED WHEN IT IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT. *** WHENEVER POSSIBLE, ANY NECESSARY TRAVEL BY PRIVATELY OWNED CONVEYANCE SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED IN THE TRAVEL ORDERS, TOGETHER WITH THE APPROPRIATE MILEAGE RATE. WHEN SUCH AUTHORIZATION IS NOT MADE, THE USE OF PRIVATELY OWNED CONVEYANCE MAY BE APPROVED, WITH APPROPRIATE NOTATIONS OR LIMITATIONS, ON THE REIMBURSEMENT VOUCHER. *** "

CORRECTED COPIES OF THE TRAVEL ORDER CROSSED OUT THE STATEMENT DISALLOWING MILEAGE. WE NOTE THAT NEITHER THE CORRECTED TRAVEL ORDER COPIES NOR THE "RESUBMISSION VOUCHER" SHOWS THE MILEAGE RATE INDICATED ABOVE TO BE APPROVED AT 10 CENTS PER MILE, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE CLAIM PAYMENT BE $56 - 560 MILES AT 10 CENTS PER MILE. HOWEVER, WE ASSUME SUCH WAS INTENDED.

THE VOUCHER WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH MAY IF OTHERWISE PROPER BE PROCESSED FOR PAYMENT.