[DOE Employee's Claim for Household Goods Transportation Costs]

A Department of Energy (DOE) employee claimed reimbursement for household goods transportation costs. GAO held that the claimant was entitled to reimbursement for his actual out-of-pocket costs, since he transported the goods in a rented truck before DOE authorized a transportation method. GAO also held that the reimbursement could include the one-way-trip truck rental, but not charges for: (1) stopovers en route; (2) gasoline, unless the one-way trip rental did not include it; (3) tow bar rental for towing the claimant's private car; or (4) insurance for the household goods, since it was not necessarily a cost attributable to the transportation. In addition, GAO held that DOE should recoup the mileage expenses it previously allowed, since the claimant towed his car. Accordingly, the claim was allowed, not to exceed reasonable and customary charges.