B-47237, JULY 16, 1946, 26 COMP. GEN. 48

B-47237, JULY 16, 1946, 26 COMP. GEN. 48

MANIFOLD BLANKS - APPROPRIATION AVAILABILITY THE FACT THAT MANIFOLD BLANKS REQUIRING NO PRESCRIBED PRINTING OR BINDING TO FIT THEM FOR THE OFFICIAL USE OF THE ORDERING DEPARTMENT MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN STOCK AS A SHELF ITEM BUT ARE REQUIRED TO BE MANUFACTURED OR PROCESSED BY THE CONTRACTOR FROM WHICH ORDERED AFTER THE ORDER IS PLACED, DOES NOT OPERATE TO CHANGE THEIR CLASSIFICATION AS STATIONERY, AND THE COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUCH MANIFOLD BLANKS MAY BE CHARGED TO AN APPROPRIATION AVAILABLE FOR STATIONERY OR OTHER MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES. 24 COMP. GEN. 690, AMPLIFIED.

ACTING COMPTROLLER GENERAL YATES, TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR, JULY 16, 1946:

I HAVE YOUR LETTER OF MAY 27, 1946, AS FOLLOWS:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR DECISION REPORTED IN 24 COMP. GEN. 690.

UNCERTAINTY HAS ARISEN AS TO THE MEANING OF THE CLAUSE "MANIFOLD BLANKS OF THE CLASS COVERED BY ITEMS (A) AND (B) REQUIRED IN DUPLICATING PROCESSES, WHEN REQUIRING NO PRINTING OR BINDING TO FIT THEM FOR OFFICIAL USE OF THE ORDERING DEPARTMENT OR ESTABLISHMENT, WILL NOT HEREAFTER BE CONSIDERED OR CLASSIFIED AS PRINTING AND BINDING.'

INFORMAL DISCUSSION OF THE ABOVE-QUOTED PHRASE BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF YOUR OFFICE AND THE WAR DEPARTMENT HAS RESULTED IN THE TENTATIVE INTERPRETATION THAT THE ABOVE-QUOTED CLAUSE MEANS THAT IF THE MANIFOLD FORMS TO BE PROCURED ARE ADAPTABLE FOR GENERAL USE RATHER THAN LIMITED SPECIFICALLY FOR WAR DEPARTMENT USE, THE BLANKS WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS STATIONERY REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE BLANKS ARE OFFERED AS A SHELF ITEM CARRIED IN STOCK BY THE CONTRACTOR OR WHETHER IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE CONTRACTOR TO PRINT THEM TO FILL THE ORDER.

IT IS REQUESTED THAT YOU ADVISE ME AS TO WHETHER THE WAR DEPARTMENT MAY PROCEED TO PURCHASE MANIFOLD BLANKS ON THE BASIS OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED INTERPRETATION.

YOUR KIND COOPERATION IN THIS MATTER WILL BE APPRECIATED.

IF, AS INDICATED IN YOUR LETTER, THE MANIFOLD BLANKS ARE OF THE TYPE HELD IN DECISION OF MARCH 22, 1945, 24 COMP. GEN. 690, TO BE PROPERLY CLASSIFIED AS STATIONERY, THE FACT THAT THEY MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN STOCK AS A SHELF ITEM BUT ARE REQUIRED TO BE MANUFACTURED OR PROCESSED BY THE CONTRACTOR SHOULD NOT OPERATE TO CHANGE THEIR CLASSIFICATION AS STATIONERY --- IT BEING UNDERSTOOD THAT NO PRESCRIBED PRINTING OR BINDING IS REQUIRED TO FIT THEM FOR THE OFFICIAL USE OF YOUR DEPARTMENT. ACCORDINGLY, THE COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUCH MANIFOLD BLANKS MAY BE CHARGED UNDER APPROPRIATIONS OF YOUR DEPARTMENT AVAILABLE FOR STATIONERY OR OTHER MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ARE CARRIED IN STOCK OR ARE MANUFACTURED OR PRODUCED BY THE CONTRACTOR FROM WHOM ORDERED AFTER THE ORDER IS PLACED.