B-179978, JAN 29, 1974, 53 COMP GEN 513

B-179978, JAN 29, 1974, 53 COMP GEN 513

STORAGE - HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS - COMMERCIAL STORAGE - TRUCK RENTAL IN LIEU AN EMPLOYEE WHO INCIDENT TO MOVING HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS TO HIS FIRST DUTY STATION RENTS A VAN IN LIEU OF STORING HIS GOODS IN A WAREHOUSE MAY BE REIMBURSED THE EXPENSES INCURRED UP TO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT AUTHORIZED BY THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION COMMUTED RATE SCHEDULE IF HE CAN PRODUCE DOCUMENTATION THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE; THAT IS, A RECEIPTED COPY OF A WAREHOUSE OR OTHER BILL FOR STORAGE COSTS WHICH SHOWS STORAGE DATES, STORAGE LOCATION, AND THE ACTUAL WEIGHT OF THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS STORED.

TO A. B. RESTIVO, JANUARY 29, 1974:

THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO YOUR LETTER OF OCTOBER 26, 1973, REFERENCE ACFPT, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING AN ADVANCE DECISION ON WHETHER THE CLAIM FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE SUBMITTED BY MR. EVERETT L. EBLEN, JR., MAY PROPERLY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.

THE RECORD PRESENTED SHOWS THAT MR. EBLEN WAS AUTHORIZED BY TRAVEL ORDER NUMBER AA-39, ISSUED JULY 3, 1973, TO MOVE HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS FROM FORT OGLETHORPE, GEORGIA, TO EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA, INCIDENT TO HIS APPOINTMENT IN THE FEDERAL SERVICE. YOUR OFFICE HAS REIMBURSED THE EXPENSES OF THE MOVE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE COSTS MR. EBLEN INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH TEMPORARY STORAGE, REIMBURSEMENT OF WHICH IS PERMITTED WHEN TRANSPORTATION OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS IS AUTHORIZED. REIMBURSEMENT OF THOSE COSTS WAS NOT ALLOWED BECAUSE IN YOUR OPINION THE DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED BY MR. EBLEN DID NOT COMPLY WITH PARAGRAPH C 7051, SECTION 2B OF VOLUME II, JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS (JTR) (DECEMBER 1, 1971). THIS PARAGRAPH PROVIDES IN PART THAT:

WHEN SHIPMENT IS MADE ON A COMMUTED RATE BASIS *** REIMBURSEMENT IS SUBJECT TO THE TABLE OF ALLOWANCES IN THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION COMMUTED RATE SCHEDULE IN APPENDIX A. REIMBURSEMENT WILL NOT, HOWEVER, EXCEED THE AMOUNT ACTUALLY PAID BY THE EMPLOYEE FOR STORAGE. CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT MUST BE SUPPORTED BY THE ORIGINAL OR CERTIFIED COPY OF RECEIPTED WAREHOUSE BILL (SEE CHAPTER 10).

THE RECORD SHOWS THAT MR. EBLEN STORED HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS IN A VAN WHICH HE APPARENTLY RENTED FOR THAT PURPOSE IN LIEU OF STORING THEM IN A WAREHOUSE. OUR OFFICE HAS APPROVED PAYMENT OF STORAGE COSTS BASED ON CHARGES FOR WAITING TIME OF THE VAN IN WHICH HOUSEHOLD GOODS WERE DELIVERED TO THE NEW RESIDENCE IN LIEU OF STORAGE IN A WAREHOUSE. COMP. GEN. 399 (1950).

IN A SIMILAR SITUATION WHEN AN EMPLOYEE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE INTO HIS PERMANENT QUARTERS FOR 6 DAYS AFTER ARRIVAL AT HIS NEW DUTY STATION, OUR OFFICE APPROVED PAYMENT OF STORAGE COSTS BASED ON CHARGES FOR A RENTAL VAN, WHICH THE EMPLOYEE HAD USED TO TRANSPORT HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS TO THE NEW STATION. B-176473, SEPTEMBER 8, 1972, COPY ENCLOSED.

REIMBURSEMENT OF STORAGE COSTS BASED ON CHARGES FOR WAITING TIME OF THE VAN HAS ALSO BEEN RECOGNIZED IN SECTION 2 OF THE COMMUTED RATE SCHEDULE PROMULGATED BY THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION WHICH IS REPRODUCED IN PART IV, APPENDIX A, JTR. THAT SECTION, FOLLOWING THE DECISIONS OF THIS OFFICE, LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH STORAGE IN A VAN IN LIEU OF STORAGE IN A WAREHOUSE TO ONE MONTH'S STORAGE AND RELATED EXPENSES.

THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, WHOSE REGULATIONS ON THIS SUBJECT ARE CONTROLLING, STATES THE DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE AS FOLLOWS: "A RECEIPTED COPY OF THE WAREHOUSE OR OTHER BILL FOR STORAGE COSTS IS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT REIMBURSEMENT." FPMR 101-7, SEC. 2- 8.5B(1) (MAY 1973). THIS WORDING FIRST APPEARED IN THE THEN APPLICABLE REGULATION IN SECTION 6.5B(1) OF OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A-56, REVISED AUGUST 17, 1971. AS LONG AS THE RECEIPTED BILL ON WHICH THE CLAIM FOR STORAGE COSTS IS BASED SHOWS THE STORAGE DATES, STORAGE LOCATION, AND THE ACTUAL WEIGHT OF THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS STORED, WE CONSIDER SUCH DOCUMENTATION AS ADEQUATE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF TEMPORARY STORAGE EXPENSES. SEE, E.G., B 173557, AUGUST 30, 1971, COPY ENCLOSED. REGARDING THE MORE RESTRICTIVE WORDING IN PARAGRAPH 7051-2B, WE DO NOT CONSIDER THE RECEIPTED WAREHOUSE BILL PROVIDED FOR THEREIN TO BE MANDATORY IF THE CLAIM IS SUPPORTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ABOVE. CF. B-173668, OCTOBER 18, 1971, COPY ENCLOSED, WHICH INVOLVED A CLAIM SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE JTR.

THEREFORE, IF MR. EBLEN CAN PRODUCE DOCUMENTATION WHICH MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE, WE HAVE NO OBJECTION TO YOUR CERTIFYING FOR PAYMENT HIS CLAIM FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE EXPENSES ACTUALLY INCURRED, UP TO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT AUTHORIZED BY THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION COMMUTED RATE SCHEDULE.

THE VOUCHER AND SUPPORTING PAPERS ARE RETURNED.