[Decision Concerning Public Health Service Officer's Liability for Household Goods Transportation Costs]

The Department of Health and Human Services requested a decision concerning a Public Health Service officer's liability for the costs of transporting a portion of his household goods that was in excess of the authorized weight allowance. GAO held that: (1) the certifying officer properly determined the excess weight on the basis of the carrier's certified weight tickets; and (2) the carrier based the price it quoted to the employee on a close approximation of the actual weight of the shipment. Accordingly, the officer should pay those costs which exceeded his authorized weight allowance.