[Query Concerning Payment for Transportation Purchased Through Travel Agent]

The Director of the Social Security Administration's Division of Finance requested a decision concerning the payment of a Government Transportation Request (GTR) issued to a commercial travel agent. The agency authorized travel of a state employee to a conference, and the employee, unaware of the prohibition of using travel agents, purchased air transportation with an agency-issued GTR through a travel agent. The standards applied in decisions concerning the use of a travel agent are that: (1) the employee was unaware of the prohibition on using travel agents; (2) the payment made to the travel agent will be limited to the cost of purchasing the ticket directly from the carrier; and (3) the employee should be advised that reimbursement will be denied for any future use of travel agents unless the employee can demonstrate there was no other alternative. GAO held that, because all of the standards were met in this case, the agency may pay the travel agent.