B-143194, JUN. 30, 1960
Highlights
THE AMOUNT WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY DISALLOWED UNDER SECTION 3.1B. WILL BE ALLOWED * * *.'. APPARENTLY THE ITEM HERE INVOLVED WAS DISALLOWED BECAUSE USE OF THE TAXICAB WAS NOT COVERED BY THE FOREGOING PROVISION. THE RECORD SUBMITTED BY YOU SHOWS THAT THE EMPLOYEE WAS ON TEMPORARY DUTY. THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE USE OF THE TAXICAB MAY HAVE RESULTED FROM THE EXIGENCIES AT THE TIME. AS FOLLOWS: "THE HIRE OF * * * TAXICAB (OTHER THAN FOR USE UNDER SECTION 3.1B) * * * WILL BE ALLOWED IF AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED AS ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT WHENEVER THE EMPLOYEE IS ENGAGED ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS WITHIN OR OUTSIDE HIS DESIGNATED POST OF DUTY. WHILE AN EMPLOYEE IS ON OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAVE RECOMMENDED IMPOSITION OF DEBARMENT.
B-143194, JUN. 30, 1960
TO MISS BESSIE L. YARBROUGH, AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER:
YOUR LETTER OF MAY 31, 1960, SUBMITS A RECLAIM VOUCHER FOR $2.70 COVERING TAXICAB FARE FROM THE EMPLOYEE'S HOTEL TO PLACE OF CONFERENCES AND RETURN WHILE ON TEMPORARY DUTY. THE AMOUNT WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY DISALLOWED UNDER SECTION 3.1B, STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS. YOU ASK WHETHER THE VOUCHER MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.
SECTION 3.1B READS, IN PERTINENT PART, AS FOLLOWS:
"REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE USUAL TAXICAB FARES FROM COMMON CARRIER OR OTHER TERMINAL TO EITHER PLACE OF ABODE OR PLACE OF BUSINESS, OR FROM EITHER PLACE OF ABODE OR PLACE OF BUSINESS TO COMMON CARRIER OR OTHER TERMINAL, WILL BE ALLOWED * * *.'
APPARENTLY THE ITEM HERE INVOLVED WAS DISALLOWED BECAUSE USE OF THE TAXICAB WAS NOT COVERED BY THE FOREGOING PROVISION.
THE RECORD SUBMITTED BY YOU SHOWS THAT THE EMPLOYEE WAS ON TEMPORARY DUTY, ENGAGED IN ATTENDING OFFICIAL CONFERENCES ON MARCH 30 WITH TWO OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE USE OF THE TAXICAB MAY HAVE RESULTED FROM THE EXIGENCIES AT THE TIME. SECTION 3.4A OF THE TRAVEL REGULATIONS READS, IN PERTINENT PART, AS FOLLOWS:
"THE HIRE OF * * * TAXICAB (OTHER THAN FOR USE UNDER SECTION 3.1B) * * * WILL BE ALLOWED IF AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED AS ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT WHENEVER THE EMPLOYEE IS ENGAGED ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS WITHIN OR OUTSIDE HIS DESIGNATED POST OF DUTY. WHILE AN EMPLOYEE IS ON OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAVE RECOMMENDED IMPOSITION OF DEBARMENT. BETWEEN * * * PLACES OF BUSINESS, MAY BE ALLOWED IF AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED AS ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE GOVERNMENT. * * *"
IN VIEW OF THE PROVISIONS JUST QUOTED, THE AMOUNT MAY BE ALLOWED ONLY IF ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL OF ADVANTAGE IS SHOWN ON THE SUBMITTED VOUCHER AS PRESCRIBED BY SECTIONS 2.1, AND 3.4A OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS. A NOTATION SHOWING ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL UNDER SECTION 3.4A, STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, OVER THE SIGNATURE OF THE APPROVING OFFICIAL WILL SUFFICE.
ACTION ON THE VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH, SHOULD BE TAKEN ACCORDINGLY.