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B-199897, AUG 26, 1980

B-199897 Aug 26, 1980
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DIGEST: WHERE TRAVELER WHOSE TRANSPORTATION IS REIMBURSABLE BY DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR IS UNAWARE OF REGULATIONS WHICH GENERALLY PRECLUDE USE OF TRAVEL AGENTS. GAO WILL ALLOW REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE COACH TICKETS PURCHASED. FOR A TRAVELER WHOSE COST OF TRAVEL IS TO BE REIMBURSED BY INTERIOR. THE PURPOSE OF THE EXEMPTION IS TO PERMIT REIMBURSEMENT FOR ROUND TRIP AIR FARE PURCHASED FROM TRAVEL AGENTS WITH PERSONAL FUNDS. C. INTERIOR'S SUBMISSION INDICATES THAT BOTH THE TRAVELER AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL INVOLVED WERE UNAWARE OF THE REQUIREMENT RESTRICTING THE USE OF TRAVEL AGENTS AND THAT SUBSEQUENTLY ALL TRAVELERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL WERE ADVISED OF THE RESTRICTION.

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B-199897, AUG 26, 1980

DIGEST: WHERE TRAVELER WHOSE TRANSPORTATION IS REIMBURSABLE BY DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR IS UNAWARE OF REGULATIONS WHICH GENERALLY PRECLUDE USE OF TRAVEL AGENTS, AND PURCHASES AIRLINE TICKETS FROM TRAVEL AGENCY WITH PERSONAL FUNDS, GAO WILL ALLOW REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE COACH TICKETS PURCHASED. DEPARTMENT - USE OF TRAVEL AGENT BY TRAVELER ON OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT TRAVEL:

THE CHIEF, BRANCH OF FINANCE, OFFICE OF SECRETARIAL OPERATIONS-FISCAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR (INTERIOR) REQUESTS AN EXEMPTION FROM OUR RESTRICTIONS AGAINST THE USE OF TRAVEL AGENTS TO PROCURE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT TRAVEL, SEE 4 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) 52.3 (1980), FOR A TRAVELER WHOSE COST OF TRAVEL IS TO BE REIMBURSED BY INTERIOR. THE PURPOSE OF THE EXEMPTION IS TO PERMIT REIMBURSEMENT FOR ROUND TRIP AIR FARE PURCHASED FROM TRAVEL AGENTS WITH PERSONAL FUNDS.

THE TRAVEL INVOLVED TRANSPORTATION FOR MEETINGS AT INTERIOR IN WASHINGTON, D. C. INTERIOR'S SUBMISSION INDICATES THAT BOTH THE TRAVELER AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL INVOLVED WERE UNAWARE OF THE REQUIREMENT RESTRICTING THE USE OF TRAVEL AGENTS AND THAT SUBSEQUENTLY ALL TRAVELERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL WERE ADVISED OF THE RESTRICTION. INTERIOR BELIEVES THAT EQUITY AND FAIRNESS DICTATE THAT AN EXEMPTION SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED SINCE THE GOVERNMENT RECEIVED THE BENEFIT OF THE TRANSPORTATION AT COACH RATES.

IN TWO RECENT DECISIONS TO INTERIOR BASED ON SIMILAR FACTS WE GRANTED THE RELIEF REQUESTED HERE. B-198950, JULY 18, 1980; B-198301, MAY 1, 1980, 59 COMP.GEN. (COPIES ENCLOSED).

IN THESE DECISIONS, WE STATED THAT WHERE A TRAVELER WHOSE TRANSPORTATION WAS REIMBURSABLE BY INTERIOR WAS UNAWARE OF THE REGULATION PRECLUDING THE USE OF TRAVEL AGENTS, AND PURCHASED AN AIRLINE TICKET WITH PERSONAL FUNDS, WE WOULD ALLOW REIMBURSEMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT EXCEEDING THE COST OF THE TRANSPORTATION HAD THE TICKETS BEEN PURCHASED DIRECTLY FROM THE CARRIER. B-198950, SUPRA; B-198301, SUPRA. HERE THE TICKETS PURCHASED WERE COACH CLASS TICKETS WHICH ARE USUALLY THE LOWEST COST TICKET AVAILABLE. THEREFORE, IF THE VOUCHER IS OTHERWISE PROPER, WE WILL NOT OBJECT TO PAYMENT OF THE COST OF THE AIRLINE TICKET FOR COACH FARE UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE VOUCHERS AND SUPPORTING PAPERS ACCOMPANYING YOUR REQUEST ARE RETURNED.

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