Request for Review of GSA Settlement Action

A freight hauling firm requested review of a settlement action taken by the General Services Administration (GSA) on the firm's claim for transportation charges relating to a shipment of Government property. The claim, which was originally filed with the Army Finance and Accounting Center, was denied by that agency because the charges had been paid to another firm. The protester contended that the Government erroneously paid the other firm. As the protester was the delivering carrier, it felt that it was entitled to the payment. GSA disallowed the claim contending that, even if the protester delivered the shipment, the Government correctly paid the other firm as it was listed as the delivering carrier of the shipment on the Government bill of lading. GAO agreed with GSA that an agency should pay the delivering carrier as listed on the bill of lading even though another carrier actually delivered the shipment. The Government had no legal obligation to distribute monies apparently properly paid to the billing carrier. The GSA settlement was sustained.