B-127999, MAY 13, 1957

B-127999, MAY 13, 1957

TO THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 23, 1957, ASKING FOR AUTHORITY TO DEPART FROM CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS OF OUR GENERAL REGULATIONS NO. 97- REVISED.

THIS AUTHORITY IS SOUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHIPMENT OF SAMPLES OF WATER FOR TESTING IN THE ROBERT A. TAFT SANITARY ENGINEERING CENTER, CINCINNATI, OHIO, FROM SAMPLING STATIONS, PRESUMABLY LOCATED IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES. IT IS STATED THAT THE PRESENT PROGRAM EVENTUALLY WILL INVOLVE ABOUT 300 SHIPMENTS PER MONTH AND THE PREPARATION OF SOME 3,600 BILLS OF LADING YEARLY, AND THAT IT WOULD APPEAR TO BE MUCH MORE ECONOMICAL AND LESS CUMBERSOME IF A CONTRACT COULD BE ENTERED INTO WITH A TRANSPORTATION COMPANY SUCH AS THE RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY, WITH ONE BILLING A MONTH FOR ALL SUCH SHIPMENTS. THE COST OF SHIPPING OUTGOING EMPTY CONTAINERS REPORTEDLY WOULD AVERAGE $6 EACH AND THE INCOMING FULL CONTAINERS $9 EACH. YOU REFER TO OUR LETTER OF MAY 28, 1956, B-127999, WHEREIN AUTHORITY WAS GRANTED TO THE ARCTIC HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, TO DEPART FROM CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN OUR GENERAL REGULATIONS NO. 97-REVISED, AND YOU STATE THAT THE BILLS OF THE CARRIER WOULD BE SUPPORTED IN THE SAME MANNER AS SET FORTH IN THE LETTER OF MAY 28, 1956.

IN VIEW OF THE SITUATION AS EXPLAINED IN YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 23RD, YOU ARE AUTHORIZED, AS TO THESE SMALL SHIPMENTS OF WATER SAMPLES AND EMPTY CONTAINERS TO OR FROM THE ROBERT A. TAFT SANITARY ENGINEERING CENTER, CINCINNATI, OHIO (ALL POINTS OF ORIGIN AND DESTINATION BEING WITH THE UNITED STATES), TO USE COMMERCIAL SHIPPING DOCUMENTS, WITH CONSIDERATION TO BE GIVEN TO THE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION GIVING ADEQUATE SERVICE AT THE MOST ECONOMICAL BASIS, SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

1. THAT EACH COMMERCIAL BILL OF LADING, OR COMMERCIAL EXPRESS RECEIPT, AND ALL COPIES THEREOF, PRIOR TO OR AT THE TIME OF TENDER OF THE SHIPMENTS TO THE CARRIER, WILL BE SEPARATELY STAMPED OR IMPRINTED WITH THE LEGEND:

"THIS SHIPMENT CONSISTS OF PROPERTY OF THE UNITED STATES AND IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE STANDARD FORM OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING AND ANY APPLICABLE CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT WITH THE CARRIER FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF SHIPMENTS FOR THE UNITED STATES ON GOVERNMENT BILLS OF LADING.'

2. THAT DISTRIBUTION OF THE COMMERCIAL BILLING DOCUMENTS WILL CONFORM AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE TO THE PATTERN ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 6, GENERAL REGULATIONS NO. 97-REVISED, FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF FORMS IN BASIC SETS OF GOVERNMENT BILLS OF LADING.

3.THAT THE CARRIER'S BILLS FOR CHARGES WILL BE SUBMITTED ON STANDARD FORM NO. 1113, PUBLIC VOUCHER FOR TRANSPORTATION CHARGES, SUPPORTED BY THE ORIGINAL COMMERCIAL BILLS OF LADING OR EXPRESS RECEIPTS, AND A SHOWING OF THE RECEIPT OF THE SHIPMENTS BY THE CONSIGNEE.

4. THAT EACH BILL OF CHARGES WILL NOT COVER MORE THAN 25 COMMERCIAL BILLS OF LADING OR EXPRESS RECEIPTS.