Questions Concerning Purchase of Air Transportation

GAO was asked to determine if the faculty members of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences may purchase their own transportation through travel agents and be reimbursed for this cost because of an anticipated increase in airfare on June 1, 1981. The faculty members are scheduled to attend an international conference in Japan during the summer of 1981. The use of travel agents in this case will result in a savings to the Government of approximately $200. Regulations generally prohibit the use of commercial travel agents to procure official Government travel. However, an exception to this prohibition exists where the travel agent's use is administratively determined to offer substantial savings to the Government. Regulations provide that the use of a travel agent may be authorized to arrange group, charter, or excursion fares if the agency makes an adminstrative determination prior to the travel that the use of reduced fares will result in a monetary savings to the Government and will not interfere with the conduct of official business. No Government transportation request should be used; the traveler should pay cash and receive reimbursement for the cost of the ticket. Therefore, it was the opinion of GAO that, if the requisite administrative determination is made and the stated payment procedure is followed, the faculty members may purchase their tickets from travel agents.