[Claim for Reimbursement for Loan Origination Fee]

A Veterans Administration (VA) employee claimed reimbursement for a 3-percent loan origination fee she incurred in purchasing a new residence incident to her transfer. VA reimbursed the employee for a 1-percent fee after establishing that as the customary local rate. The employee submitted a statement from her lending institution that 3 percent was the usual and customary fee for originating mortgages. GAO held that: (1) VA properly relied on the technical assistance of another agency in determining the customary local rate; and (2) the employee failed to submit sufficient evidence to support her contention that the customary local rate was higher. Accordingly, the claim was denied.