B-159059, JUN. 28, 1966
Highlights
THE SEMINAR ANNOUNCEMENT SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED THAT CANCELLATIONS OF RESERVATIONS FOR THE SEMINAR MIGHT NOT BE MADE AFTER THE CLOSING DATE FOR RESERVATIONS WHICH DATE WAS SHOWN TO BE FEBRUARY 7 BUT REGISTRANTS WERE FREE TO SEND SUBSTITUTES. HIS EXPLANATION THEREOF IS CONTAINED IN HIS MEMORANDUM OF APRIL 21. IN PART AS FOLLOWS: "IN THE MEANTIME I BECAME HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATION OF THE 5 YEAR ADVANCE BUDGET AND WAS GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR THE 5 YEAR ENERGY BUDGET. "I WAS PARTICULARLY ANXIOUS TO ATTEND THE SEMINAR SO I DELAYED CANCELLATION UNTIL FEBRUARY 7 WHICH IS PROBABLY THE DAY THE UNDATED FORM 6 -95 WAS MAILED FROM WASHINGTON. THE REGISTRATION FEE IS A LEGITIMATE OBLIGATION CHARGEABLE TO FUNDS INDICATED ON THE PURCHASE REQUISITION.'.
B-159059, JUN. 28, 1966
TO THE AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, BUREAU OF MINES:
ON APRIL 26, 1966, YOU REQUESTED OUR DECISION WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT A VOUCHER IN THE AMOUNT OF $115 IN FAVOR OF THE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, 420 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, COVERING SEMINAR FEE FOR HARRY PERRY, DIRECTOR OF COAL RESEARCH, BUREAU OF MINES.
MR. PERRY SUBMITTED AN INFORMAL APPLICATION TO THE CLAIMANT TO ATTEND AN ENERGY CONVERSION SEMINAR SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 10 AND 11, 1966. RECEIVED NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE OF HIS APPLICATION ON FEBRUARY 3, 1966. THE SEMINAR ANNOUNCEMENT SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED THAT CANCELLATIONS OF RESERVATIONS FOR THE SEMINAR MIGHT NOT BE MADE AFTER THE CLOSING DATE FOR RESERVATIONS WHICH DATE WAS SHOWN TO BE FEBRUARY 7 BUT REGISTRANTS WERE FREE TO SEND SUBSTITUTES.
MR. PERRY DID NOT ATTEND THE SEMINAR. FURTHER, HE DID NOT SEND A SUBSTITUTE NOR DID HE MAKE A TIMELY REQUEST FOR CANCELLATION OF HIS RESERVATION. HIS EXPLANATION THEREOF IS CONTAINED IN HIS MEMORANDUM OF APRIL 21, 1966, IN PART AS FOLLOWS:
"IN THE MEANTIME I BECAME HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATION OF THE 5 YEAR ADVANCE BUDGET AND WAS GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR THE 5 YEAR ENERGY BUDGET.
"I WAS PARTICULARLY ANXIOUS TO ATTEND THE SEMINAR SO I DELAYED CANCELLATION UNTIL FEBRUARY 7 WHICH IS PROBABLY THE DAY THE UNDATED FORM 6 -95 WAS MAILED FROM WASHINGTON. SINCE THE ASSOCIATION RECEIVED NOTICE OF MY CANCELLATION TOO LATE TO ARRANGE FOR A REPLACEMENT, THE REGISTRATION FEE IS A LEGITIMATE OBLIGATION CHARGEABLE TO FUNDS INDICATED ON THE PURCHASE REQUISITION.'
MR. PERRY WAS AUTHORIZED TO APPROVE TRAINING FOR PERIODS OF 40 HOURS OR LESS. THE ACCEPTANCE OF HIS APPLICATION BY THE CLAIMANT RESULTED IN A VALID OBLIGATION FOR PAYMENT OF THE FEE, SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION OF THE RESERVATION ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 7, 1966. THERE IS NO INDICATION WHY THE CANCELLATION COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MADE BY TELEPHONE OR TELEGRAM ON FEBRUARY 7, 1966, WHICH MR. PERRY STATES ALSO WAS "PROBABLY" THE DAY THE UNDATED FORM 6-95 (NOTICE OF CANCELLATION) WAS MAILED FROM WASHINGTON. PERHAPS SUCH MEANS OF CANCELLATION DID NOT OCCUR TO MR. PERRY BECAUSE OF THE PRESS OF OTHER DUTIES OR ELSE HE BELIEVED THE FORM 6-95 TO WHICH HE REFERS WOULD BE MAILED IN TIME TO EFFECT THE CANCELLATION BY FEBRUARY 7. BE THAT AS IT MAY, IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ASSOCIATION WAS IN ANY WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AGENCY'S FAILURE TO GIVE TIMELY NOTICE OF CANCELLATION. THEREFORE, THE VOUCHER WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT IF OTHERWISE CORRECT.