B-145883, JUN. 3, 1963

B-145883, JUN. 3, 1963

TO DIRECTOR, PEACE CORPS:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF MAY 20, 1963, CONCERNING THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE PEACE CORPS IN PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION TO PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS AND WITH WHICH YOU SUBMITTED A SUMMARY OF DOMESTIC TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS, JOINTLY DEVISED WITH THE VARIOUS AIR CARRIERS.

YOU EXPRESS THE BELIEF THAT THE PROPOSED PLAN IS FULLY CONSONANT WITH ALL SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS OF GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED UNDER 5 GAO 2000, EXCEPT THAT UNDER THE PLAN, GOVERNMENT TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS WOULD BE SIGNED BY THE CHIEF, TRANSPORTATION BRANCH, DIVISION OF VOLUNTEER SUPPORT, PEACE CORPS, (OR PERSON DULY ACTING IN THAT CAPACITY) INSTEAD OF THE TRAVELER. YOU STATE THAT ALTHOUGH THE ARRANGEMENT DIFFERS SOMEWHAT FROM THE CONVENTIONAL METHOD OF ARRANGING TRAVEL, IT RETAINS THE REQUIRED CONTROLS AND AT THE SAME TIME ELIMINATES THE NUMEROUS DIFFICULTIES WHICH THE PEACE CORPS PREVIOUSLY ENCOUNTERED. YOU STATE ALSO THAT IN ADDITION TO A SAVING OF AN ESTIMATED 600 MAN-HOURS DURING THE SUMMER PEAK PERIOD, IT IS IMMEASURABLY VALUABLE IN EFFECTING A SMOOTH- RUNNING OPERATION AND, IN VIEW OF THE SHORTNESS OF TIME BEFORE YOU ENTER THE PEAK PERIOD, YOU HAVE ORDERED IT INTO EFFECT ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS PENDING OUR ADVICE.

IN VIEW OF THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVED AND IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES THAT MIGHT LATER COME TO ATTENTION, WE WILL INTERPOSE NO OBJECTION TO YOUR CONTINUED USE OF THE ARRANGEMENT TO PROCURE DOMESTIC TRAVEL FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS, AS OUTLINED IN THE ATTACHMENT TO YOUR LETTER, PROVIDED THAT NECESSARY AND ADEQUATE CONTROLS ARE MAINTAINED, PARTICULARLY AS TO THE RECOVERY AND REDEMPTION OF UNUSED TICKETS.