B-160419 July 28, 1967

B-160419 July 28, 1967

The Honorable Bob Mathies House of Representatives

Dear Mr. Mathies:

This is in reply to your letter dated June 27, 1967, requesting information concerning whether or not payments are made to citizens for suggestions which result in substantial savings to the Government as they are made to civil service employees and members of the armed forces for adopted suggestions.

Your request is on behalf on an inquiry made to you by Mr. William H. Clark of Bakersfield, California, whose letter to us resulted in our Office undertaking a review of the General Services Administration's national Federal Supply contracts for repair and maintenance of office. As a result of our review, we issued a report to the Congress (B-160519, dated February 23, 1947), which demonstrates the possibility for substantial cost reductions on the repair and maintenance of Government-owned office machines through the greater use of local repair firms instead of through the use of national schedule contracts with machine manufacturers.

The payments of cash awards to civilian officers and employees of the Federal Government and to members of the armed forces, who by their suggestions, invention, superior accomplishments, or other personal efforts contribute to the efficiency, economy, or other improvement of Government operations, are made under authority of specific laws passed by the Congress. Chapter 45 of the newly enacted title 5, United States Code, authorizes awards to civilian employees and section 1124 of title 10, United States Code, 1964 ed., Supp. II, authorizes awards to members of the armed forces.

A number of statutes authorize the payment of rewards to private citizens for specified services rendered by them. See, for example, the provisions codified at 18 U.S.C. 3056 and 3059, relating to the capture of persons charged with violation of criminal laws: 19 U.S.C. 1619, relating to information concerning violation of customs laws; 14 U.S.C. 643, relating to information leading to apprehension and conviction of persons illegally interfering with aids to navigation or to discovery of missing Coast Guard property, and other similar provisions at 14 U.S.C. 644, 10 id. 7209, 26 id. 7214; 50 id. 47(a); and 39 id. 509

We know of no authority under which payment of an award may be made to Mr. Clark for the information he voluntarily furnished to this office as an interested taxpayer. Even under the special statutes referred to in the proceeding paragraph, the great weight of authority is that entitlement to a reward for special services depends upon a valid reward offer coupled with knowledge thereof by the person rendering the service at the time he performs the service. See 41 Comp. Gen. 410.

We trust this information will be helpful in replying to Mr. Clark's inquiry. Please advise us if we can be of further assistance.

Sincerely yours,

FRANK H. WEITZEL Assistant Comptroller General of the United States