B-174927, MAR 7, 1972
Highlights
THE REQUESTED AUTHORITY IS GRANTED. PROVIDED THAT WHENEVER POSSIBLE THE CASH PROCUREMENT IS MADE WITH EXCESS OR NEAR EXCESS FOREIGN CURRENCIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 10.4 OF SGTR. YOUR REQUEST IS RELATED TO EXCURSION AND OTHER REDUCED RATE PLANS. ALL PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES ESSENTIAL TO THE CONDUCT OF THE OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF THE GOVERNMENT ARE REQUIRED TO BE PROCURED ON GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS. 5 U.S. ARE FAMILIAR WITH BOTH THE USE OF GTRS AND THE BILLING PROCEDURES. APPARENTLY HAVE MET WITH THE REFUSAL OF SOME AIRLINES TO ACCEPT GTRS FOR ANY BUT REGULAR FARE TICKETS AND WITH THEIR INSISTENCE UPON CASH PAYMENT FOR REDUCED FARE TICKETS. IZMIR IS SERVED ONLY BY TURKISH AIRLINES.
B-174927, MAR 7, 1972
TRANSPORTATION - NONACCEPTANCE OF GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS - CASH PAYMENT ALLOWED CONCERNING A REQUEST BY THE BUREAU OF NARCOTICS AND DANGEROUS DRUGS FOR AUTHORITY TO APPROVE CASH PURCHASES OF REDUCED FARE TICKETS IF AIR CARRIERS REFUSE TO ACCEPT GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS (GTRS). THE REQUESTED AUTHORITY IS GRANTED, PROVIDED THAT WHENEVER POSSIBLE THE CASH PROCUREMENT IS MADE WITH EXCESS OR NEAR EXCESS FOREIGN CURRENCIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 10.4 OF SGTR, CIRCULAR NO. A-7, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.
TO BUREAU OF NARCOTICS AND DANGEROUS DRUGS:
PLEASE REFER TO YOUR LETTER DATED JANUARY 5, 1972, ASKING FOR AUTHORITY TO APPROVE CASH PURCHASES OF REDUCED FARE AIRLINE TICKETS IF AIR CARRIERS REFUSE TO ACCEPT GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS (GTRS). YOUR REQUEST IS RELATED TO EXCURSION AND OTHER REDUCED RATE PLANS.
GENERALLY, ALL PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES ESSENTIAL TO THE CONDUCT OF THE OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF THE GOVERNMENT ARE REQUIRED TO BE PROCURED ON GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS. 5 U.S. GAO 2010.10. INTERNATIONAL AIR CARRIERS, FOREIGN AS WELL AS AMERICAN FLAG, ARE FAMILIAR WITH BOTH THE USE OF GTRS AND THE BILLING PROCEDURES; THESE CARRIERS, WE THINK, WOULD USUALLY ACCEPT GTRS FOR REDUCED FARE TICKETS.
BUREAU AGENTS ENGAGED IN FOREIGN TRAVEL, EITHER COUNTRY TO COUNTRY OR FOREIGN ORIGIN TO THE UNITED STATES, APPARENTLY HAVE MET WITH THE REFUSAL OF SOME AIRLINES TO ACCEPT GTRS FOR ANY BUT REGULAR FARE TICKETS AND WITH THEIR INSISTENCE UPON CASH PAYMENT FOR REDUCED FARE TICKETS. OCCASIONALLY WE FIND INSTANCES WHERE FOREIGN FLAG AIRLINES INSIST UPON CASH PAYMENTS FOR TICKETS, POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLICATIONS AND BURDEN OF PROCESSING GTRS AND DELAYS IN PAYMENT. THE EXAMPLE CITED IN YOUR LETTER CONCERNED TRAVEL FROM IZMIR, TURKEY, TO CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; IZMIR IS SERVED ONLY BY TURKISH AIRLINES. IN THAT CASE CASH PURCHASE OF A 30-DAY EXCURSION TICKET COSTING $495 WOULD HAVE SAVED $410, THE ADDITIONAL COST OF REGULAR FARE COACH ACCOMMODATIONS. WE UNDERSTAND, HOWEVER, THAT THE PROBLEM ARISES IN ABOUT 20 CASES A YEAR.
IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE REQUESTED AUTHORITY IS GRANTED TO THE BUREAU FOR THE CASH PURCHASE OF REDUCED FARE AIRLINE TICKETS IN THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE AIRLINES REFUSE TO ACCEPT GTRS IN EXCHANGE FOR SUCH REDUCED FARE TICKETS. THE BUREAU SHOULD HAVE ADEQUATE INTERNAL CONTROLS TO POLICE THESE CASH TRANSPORTATION PROCUREMENTS, AND TO INSURE THAT WHEREVER POSSIBLE THE CASH PROCUREMENT IS MADE WITH EXCESS OR NEAR EXCESS FOREIGN CURRENCIES, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 10.4 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, CIRCULAR NO. A-7, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.