B-166785, JUN. 16, 1969
Highlights
THE INVOICE FROM IBM IS SUPPORTED BY A PUNCHED COMPUTER CARD INSTEAD OF BY THE RECEIPTED FREIGHT BILL OF THE CARRIER THAT PERFORMED THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE. THE CARRIER WAS BURNHAM VAN LINES. THE DATE OF SHIPMENT WAS ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 2. THE FREIGHT RATE WAS $7.65 PER HUNDRED POUNDS. "IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND EXACT CHARGE AS PAID BY THE IBM CORPORATION.'. THE ORIGIN IS NOT SHOWN NOR IS THE DESTINATION CLEARLY AND DEFINITELY SHOWN.
B-166785, JUN. 16, 1969
TO MR. JOHN L. SMITH:
IN YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 24, 1969, AD571X12, YOU REQUEST AN ADVANCE DECISION AS TO WHETHER YOU MAY PROPERLY CERTIFY FOR PAYMENT INVOICE NO. OKP2702 DATED DECEMBER 26, 1968, IN THE AMOUNT OF $55.92, SUBMITTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, DALLAS, TEXAS.
IBM SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT OF FREIGHT CHARGES PAID TO THE CARRIER FOR A SHIPMENT MOVING ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT. THE INVOICE FROM IBM IS SUPPORTED BY A PUNCHED COMPUTER CARD INSTEAD OF BY THE RECEIPTED FREIGHT BILL OF THE CARRIER THAT PERFORMED THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE. THE DATA ON THE PUNCHED CARD INDICATES THAT THE SHIPMENT CONSISTED OF "ACCOUNTING CARD MACHINES AND/OR TABULATING MACHINES" WEIGHING 731 POUNDS; THE CARRIER WAS BURNHAM VAN LINES; THE DATE OF SHIPMENT WAS ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 2, 1968; THE FREIGHT RATE WAS $7.65 PER HUNDRED POUNDS. THE CARD BEARS A CERTIFICATE OF A PLANT TRAFFIC MANAGER, APPARENTLY OF AN IBM PLANT, THAT,"IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND EXACT CHARGE AS PAID BY THE IBM CORPORATION.' HOWEVER, THE ORIGIN IS NOT SHOWN NOR IS THE DESTINATION CLEARLY AND DEFINITELY SHOWN. WITHOUT THE ORIGIN AND DESTINATION, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO AUDIT THE FREIGHT CHARGES IN OUR OFFICE.
IN ADDITION, WE HELD IN B-121220 OF FEBRUARY 13, 1964, 43 COMP. GEN. 557, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY THAT CONTRACTOR'S CLAIMS FOR REIMBURSEMENT BE SUPPORTED WITH A RECEIPTED CARRIER FREIGHT BILL OR WITH AN UNRECEIPTED CARRIER BILL, TOGETHER WITH SOME EVIDENCE THAT SUCH FREIGHT BILL HAS BEEN PAID BY THE CONTRACTOR IN ORDER TO GIVE THE GOVERNMENT STANDING TO RECOVER IN THE EVENT OF FREIGHT OVER-CHARGES OR LOSS AND DAMAGE IN TRANSIT.
IN THE ABSENCE OF SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO ENABLE OUR OFFICE TO CARRY OUT ITS DUTY TO AUDIT THE PAYMENT AND OF SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO GIVE THE GOVERNMENT STANDING AS THE REAL PARTY IN INTEREST, WE MAY NOT APPROVE THE REIMBURSEMENT OF FREIGHT CHARGES TO THE CONTRACTOR. ACCORDINGLY, INVOICE NO. OKP2702 DATED DECEMBER 26, 1968, IN THE AMOUNT OF $55.92, SUBMITTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, DALLAS, TEXAS, FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF FREIGHT CHARGES, MAY NOT, ON THE PRESENT RECORD AND IN THE ABSENCE OF THE FREIGHT BILL, ETC., AS INDICATED IN OUR DECISION OF FEBRUARY 13, 1964, BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.