[Request for Review of GSA Determination That Firm Collected Transportation Charges]

An air transportation carrier requested review of a General Services Administration (GSA) determination that it improperly charged the Army for priority services, stating that it was entitled to the higher charges because the services were performed at the Army's request. GAO stated that the carrier bears the burden of proving that the charges in question were requested and performed. Although the carrier produced pilot logs showing that the shipments were handled expeditiously, GAO found that it could not produce any written documentation supporting the contention that the services were requested by the Army, since all communications between the carrier and the shipper were by telephone. Further, GAO found that the the Government bills of lading (GBL's) requested deferred, not priority, service and the carrier accepted the GBL's without questioning the discrepancy. Accordingly, the GSA determination was affirmed.