B-169640, MAY 18, 1970
Highlights
ON THEORY SUCH COST WAS LESS THAN SUBSISTENCE AND STORAGE COSTS. IS DISALLOWED CLAIM SINCE LAW AND REGULATIONS PERMIT REIMBURSEMENT OF TEMPORARY STORAGE COSTS ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY INCURRED AS INCIDENT TO TRANSPORTATION OF EFFECTS FROM OLD TO NEW STATION. THERE IS NO AUTHORITY FOR PAYMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COSTS ON BASIS HIGHER COSTS FOR TEMPORARY QUARTERS HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. KIMMEL WAS TRANSFERRED FROM WASHINGTON. A SUITABLE APARTMENT WAS LOCATED AND MR. KIMMEL WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS MADE WITH THE LANDLORD HAD BEEN CANCELED AND THE APARTMENT WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE. A SECOND TRIP WAS AUTHORIZED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT PER DIEM WOULD NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM OF 6 DAYS AND MR. HIS HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS WERE MOVED INTO HIS NEW HOUSE AT A COST OF $291.75.
B-169640, MAY 18, 1970
TRANSPORTATION--HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS--DRAYAGE IN LIEU OF TEMPORARY STORAGE TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEE PAID PER DIEM ON SECOND HOUSE HUNTING TRIP, WHO CLAIMS $291.75 FOR MOVING HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS AT NEW STATION FROM APARTMENT TO HOUSE, ON THEORY SUCH COST WAS LESS THAN SUBSISTENCE AND STORAGE COSTS, IS DISALLOWED CLAIM SINCE LAW AND REGULATIONS PERMIT REIMBURSEMENT OF TEMPORARY STORAGE COSTS ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY INCURRED AS INCIDENT TO TRANSPORTATION OF EFFECTS FROM OLD TO NEW STATION. LIKEWISE, THERE IS NO AUTHORITY FOR PAYMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COSTS ON BASIS HIGHER COSTS FOR TEMPORARY QUARTERS HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. ALSO, ALLOWANCE OF PER DIEM ON SECOND HOUSE HUNTING TRIP APPEARS IMPROPER.
TO MR. FRANK L. GRUBE:
THIS REFERS TO YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 7, 1970, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING A DECISION WHETHER THE ENCLOSED VOUCHER IN THE AMOUNT OF $291.75, IN FAVOR OF MR. FRED R. KIMMEL, FOR TRANSPORTATION OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.
THE RECORD SHOWS THAT BY TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION DATED MARCH 7, 1969, MR. KIMMEL WAS TRANSFERRED FROM WASHINGTON, D. C; TO CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ON A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION. ON MARCH 8, 1969, MR. KIMMEL AND HIS WIFE DEPARTED WASHINGTON, D. C; BY AIR FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKING PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN CHICAGO. A SUITABLE APARTMENT WAS LOCATED AND MR. AND MRS. KIMMEL RETURNED TO WASHINGTON, D. C; ON MARCH 10, 1969. THE FOLLOWING DAY MR. KIMMEL WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS MADE WITH THE LANDLORD HAD BEEN CANCELED AND THE APARTMENT WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE. A SECOND TRIP WAS AUTHORIZED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT PER DIEM WOULD NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM OF 6 DAYS AND MR. KIMMEL WOULD PAY THE TRANSPORTATION AND INCIDENTAL EXPENSES FOR THE SECOND TRIP. MR. KIMMEL MADE THE TRIP AND COMPLETED ARRANGEMENTS FOR ANOTHER APARTMENT.
ON APRIL 10, 1969, MR. KIMMEL SHIPPED 5,550 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS INTO HIS NEW APARTMENT AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE. ON JUNE 2, 1969, MR. KIMMEL NOTIFIED HIS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF HIS INTENT TO MOVE INTO A HOUSE SINCE THE APARTMENT PROVED INADEQUATE. ON JULY 28, 1969, HIS HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS WERE MOVED INTO HIS NEW HOUSE AT A COST OF $291.75. MR. KIMMEL IS CLAIMING REIMBURSEMENT OF SUCH AMOUNT ON THE GROUND THAT THIS IS IN LIEU OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER SUBSISTENCE AND STORAGE COSTS.
THE LAW AND REGULATIONS PERMIT REIMBURSEMENT OF TEMPORARY STORAGE COSTS ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY INCURRED AS INCIDENT TO TRANSPORTATION OF SUCH EFFECTS BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW OFFICIAL STATIONS. ACCORDINGLY, TEMPORARY STORAGE COSTS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN INCURRED MAY NOT BE USED AS A BASIS FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE EXPENSES OF THE COST OF TRANSPORTING THE HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS BETWEEN RESIDENCES AT HIS OFFICIAL DUTY STATION AT CHICAGO. LIKEWISE, THERE IS NO AUTHORITY FOR THE PAYMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COSTS ON THE GROUND THAT HIGHER COSTS FOR TEMPORARY QUARTERS HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.
THE VOUCHER WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT. ALSO, WE NOTE THAT THE ALLOWANCE OF PER DIEM IN LIEU OF SUBSISTENCE TO MR. KIMMEL IN CONNECTION WITH THE SECOND HOUSE HUNTING TRIP APPEARS IMPROPER. SEE B-168829, COPY HEREWITH.