B-156833, AUG. 26, 1965
Highlights
FROM THE OUTSET IT WAS KNOWN BY ALL CONCERNED THAT THE TRIP WOULD BE MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT IF I USED MY OWN VEHICLE. THE HEAVY LOADS I WAS TO TRANSPORT AND LATER PICK UP AND DELIVER. WERE KNOWN THE DAY THE TRAVEL ORDERS WERE DEVELOPED AND PROCESSED FOR APPROVAL. THE TRIP WAS PLANNED. "B. BECAUSE OF THE PRESS FOR TIME TWO ERRORS WERE MADE IN DEVELOPING THE ORDERS. THE TYPIST TYPED IN THE WRONG BLOCK INDICATING "REIMBURSEMENT WILL NOT EXCEED THE CONSTRUCTIVE COST TO GOVERNMENT BY USUAL MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION" IN LIEU OF THE BLOCK WHICH SHOULD HAVE INDICATED THE "TRAVEL BY POV IS MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT.'. "C. THERE WAS NO CHICANERY INVOLVED OR AFTER THE FACT CHANGE IN PLANS.
B-156833, AUG. 26, 1965
TO MR. ALEXANDER ADAMS, CHIEF:
YOUR LETTER OF JULY 15, 1965, ASKS THAT WE RECONSIDER OUR DECISION B- 156833 DATED JUNE 23, 1965, WHICH DISALLOWED YOUR RECLAIM FOR $52 REPRESENTING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AMOUNT ADMINISTRATIVELY ALLOWED AND THE AMOUNT YOU CLAIMED FOR YOUR AUTHORIZED TRAVEL DURING THE PERIOD MARCH 11 TO 17, 1965.
YOU ASK THAT THE MATTER BE REVIEWED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
"A. FROM THE OUTSET IT WAS KNOWN BY ALL CONCERNED THAT THE TRIP WOULD BE MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT IF I USED MY OWN VEHICLE. THE HEAVY LOADS I WAS TO TRANSPORT AND LATER PICK UP AND DELIVER, ADDITIONAL LOADS TO AND FROM AN AIRPORT, WERE KNOWN THE DAY THE TRAVEL ORDERS WERE DEVELOPED AND PROCESSED FOR APPROVAL. IN FACT, THE TRIP WAS PLANNED, THE ORDERS DEVELOPED AND PROCESSED IN A MATTER OF A FEW HOURS UNDER PRESSURE OF SOME RATHER TIGHT DEADLINES.
"B. BECAUSE OF THE PRESS FOR TIME TWO ERRORS WERE MADE IN DEVELOPING THE ORDERS. THE TYPIST TYPED IN THE WRONG BLOCK INDICATING "REIMBURSEMENT WILL NOT EXCEED THE CONSTRUCTIVE COST TO GOVERNMENT BY USUAL MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION" IN LIEU OF THE BLOCK WHICH SHOULD HAVE INDICATED THE "TRAVEL BY POV IS MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT.' THE SECOND ERROR OCCURRED (SIC) WHEN (AND ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE PRESS FOR TIME) I FAILED TO NOTICE THE CLERICAL ERROR AS I SIGNED THE ORDERS.
"C. THERE WAS NO CHICANERY INVOLVED OR AFTER THE FACT CHANGE IN PLANS, JUST A PURE INNOCENT HUMAN ERROR MADE UNDER RATHER TRYING CONDITIONS.'
THE FOREGOING REASONS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS THOSE CONSIDERED BY US INCIDENT TO ARRIVING AT THE CONCLUSION SET FORTH IN OUR DECISION OF JUNE 23, 1965. IT IS APPARENT FROM THE INFORMATION FURNISHED HERE INCIDENT TO THE REQUEST FOR THAT DECISION THAT AN ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION EXISTED CONCERNING THE MATTER. MOREOVER, THERE IS NO OBVIOUS ERROR OR ERRORS IN THE TRAVEL ORDER AS ISSUED.
ACCORDINGLY, WE FIND NO BASIS IN YOUR LETTER OF JULY 15 FOR CHANGING OUR PREVIOUS DECISION IN THIS MATTER.