B-145102, MAR. 3, 1961

B-145102, MAR. 3, 1961

TO AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR, HOUSING AND HOME FINANCE AGENCY:

YOUR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 8, 1961, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTS OUR DECISION WHETHER CERTIFICATION FOR PAYMENT MAY BE MADE ON THE RECLAIM VOUCHER THEREWITH TRANSMITTED PROPOSING PAYMENT OF $6 TO MR. GEORGE W. SIMMONS, JR., REPRESENTING ONE-HALF DAY'S PER DIEM ADMINISTRATIVELY DISALLOWED FOR THE PERIOD DECEMBER 5 TO 13, 1960.

THE RECLAIM VOUCHER RESULTS FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE DISALLOWANCE OF PER DIEM CLAIMED BECAUSE OF A QUESTION REGARDING THE SCHEDULE FOLLOWED BY THE LIMOUSINE SERVICE FROM FORT WORTH, TEXAS, LIMOUSINE TERMINAL TO THE AIRPORT AT LOVE FIELD, DALLAS, TEXAS. ON DECEMBER 5, 1960, MR. SIMMONS CLAIMED PER DIEM FROM 5:20 A.M., THE TIME THE AIRPORT LIMOUSINE LEFT THE LIMOUSINE TERMINAL, TEXAS HOTEL, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIP TO 5:30 P.M., DECEMBER 7, 1960, THE TIME THE AIRPORT LIMOUSINE ARRIVED AT THE LIMOUSINE TERMINAL, TEXAS HOTEL, ON THE RETURN TRIP--- 2 3/4 DAYS' PER DIEM AT $12 PER DAY, OR $33. HE WAS ALLOWED $30 REPRESENTING 2 1/2 DAYS' PER DIEM AT $12 PER DAY.

ON DECEMBER 13, 1960, MR. SIMMONS CLAIMED PER DIEM FROM 5:30 P.M., THE TIME THE AIRPORT LIMOUSINE LEFT THE LIMOUSINE TERMINAL, TEXAS HOTEL, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIP TO 10:30 P.M., DECEMBER 15, 1960, THE TIME THE AIRPORT LIMOUSINE ARRIVED AT THE LIMOUSINE TERMINAL, TEXAS HOTEL, ON THE RETURN TRIP--- 2 1/2 DAYS' PER DIEM AT $12 PER DAY OR $30. HE WAS ALLOWED $27 REPRESENTING 2 1/2 DAYS' PER DIEM AT $12 PER DAY.

ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFERENCE STATEMENT TO MR. SIMMONS THE SUSPENSION FROM HIS ORIGINAL VOUCHER WAS EXPLAINED AS FOLLOWS:

"$6.00 HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FROM YOUR VOUCHER SUBMITTED FOR DECEMBER 1960 FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON:

"PER DIEM CLAIMED FOR 12/5/60 AND 12/13/60 IS IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT ALLOWED BY STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, SECTION 6.9 SUBSECTION C AS AMENDED 5/1/60. PER DIEM WAS CLAIMED FROM THE TIME THE LIMOUSINE LEFT THE LIMOUSINE STATION, TEXAS HOTEL, FORT WORTH, INSTEAD OF BEING CLAIMED FROM THE TIME THE PLANE LEFT LOVE FIELD IN DALLAS.'

YOU SAY THAT ACCORDING TO INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE AIRLINE TICKET OFFICE, THE LIMOUSINE SERVICE OPERATES ON A TIME SCHEDULE (NOT A PRINTED ONE) BUT MAKES THE TRIP TO THE AIRPORT ONLY WHEN THERE ARE PASSENGERS FOR THE AIRPORT. WHEN A TRAVELER PURCHASES AN AIRLINE TICKET HE IS ADVISED BY THE AIRLINE TICKET OFFICE TO BE AT THE LIMOUSINE TERMINAL (TEXAS HOTEL IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS) BY A SPECIFIC TIME TO DEPART FOR THE AIRPORT.

SECTION 6.9 (C) OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS AMENDED EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 1960, PROVIDES THAT THE TIME WHEN PER DIEM COMMENCES GENERALLY IS THE SCHEDULED TIME OF DEPARTURE OF THE CONVEYANCE FROM THE DEPOT AND ENDS WHEN THE CONVEYANCE ACTUALLY ARRIVES AT ITS DEPOT.

UPON THE BASIS OF THE INFORMATION FURNISHED IN YOUR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 8, 1961, IT REASONABLY APPEARS THAT THE AIRPORT LIMOUSINE SERVICE USED BY MR. SIMMONS OPERATED ON A TIME SCHEDULE WITHIN PURVIEW OF THE TRAVEL REGULATION WHEN PASSENGERS WERE AVAILABLE AND THAT HE BOARDED THE AIRPORT LIMOUSINE IN TRAVELING TO THE AIRPORT AT A TERMINAL (TEXAS HOTEL) SPECIFIED BY THE AIRLINE TICKET OFFICE. THUS, PER DIEM WOULD COMMENCE WITH THE SCHEDULED DEPARTURE TIME OF THE AIRPORT LIMOUSINE USED AND WOULD TERMINATE UPON THE ARRIVAL OF SUCH CONVEYANCE AT ITS TERMINAL (TEXAS HOTEL). SEE B-143672 DATED AUGUST 25, 1960, 40 COMP. GEN. 128, AND B- 143672 DATED OCTOBER 17, 1960.

THEREFORE, THE VOUCHER WHICH, TOGETHER WITH ENCLOSURES, IS RETURNED HEREWITH, MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT, IF OTHERWISE CORRECT.