Propriety of Payment for Winter Head Gear to Participants in the Volunteer Observer Program of the National Weather Service

An authorized certifying officer requested an opinion from GAO as to the propriety of payment for winter head gear for participants in the Volunteer Observer Program of the National Weather Service (NWS). While NWS relies on the volunteers for various tasks associated with weather observation, the agency has difficulty recruiting and maintaining this body of observers. As an incentive to the volunteers, NWS ordered brightly colored winter caps, which were to be given to the volunteer observers during their semiannual training and inspection visits. However, there was no specific appropriation to provide for the purchase of such items for volunteers. To qualify as a legitimate expenditure, the acquisition and subsequent distribution of these items must constitute a necessary expense of NWS. GAO held that appropriated funds may be used for objects not specifically set forth in an appropriation act only if there is a direct connection between such objects and the purposes for which the appropriation was made and if the object is essential to carrying out such a purpose. With respect to the instant case, there was no indication that NWS would fail to accomplish its statutory mission without disbribution of the caps. The caps were in the nature of personal gifts to the volunteers, and GAO could not approve the use of appropriated funds for procurement of the caps. Accordingly, the invoice may not be paid.