B-172017, MAR 16, 1971
Highlights
SECTION 6 AUTHORIZE CONSIDERATION OF ANY ADDITIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED IN EXCESS OF REIMBURSEMENT ON THE COMMUTED RATE BASIS WHEN HOUSEHOLD GOODS ARE SHIPPED UNDER THE COMMUTED RATE BASIS SYSTEM. RAAKA: FURTHER REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 8. SUCH CLAIMED EXPENSES ARE ADDITIONAL TO REIMBURSEMENT ALREADY RECEIVED BASED ON THE COMMUTED RATE FOR MOVEMENT OF THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS. REINKE'S HOUSEHOLD GOODS WERE SHIPPED ON NOVEMBER 29. WHERE THEY WERE TRANSFERRED TO A LARGER VAN FOR THE TRIP TO SAN DIEGO. SHALL BE REIMBURSED ON A COMMUTED BASIS AT THE RATES PER 100 POUNDS THAT ARE FIXED BY ZONES IN THE REGULATIONS. *** " SECTION 6 OF OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. NEITHER THE LAW NOR THE REGULATIONS AUTHORIZE CONSIDERATION OF ANY ADDITIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED IN EXCESS OF REIMBURSEMENT ON THE COMMUTED RATE BASIS WHEN HOUSEHOLD GOODS ARE SHIPPED UNDER THE COMMUTED RATE BASIS SYSTEM.
B-172017, MAR 16, 1971
SHIPMENT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS - COMMUTED RATE BASIS DECISION DENYING CLAIM BY KONRAD B. REINKE, A FOREST SERVICE EMPLOYEE FOR $75 REIMBURSEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE SHIPMENT OF HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS. NEITHER 5 U.S.C. 5724(C) NOR MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A-56, SECTION 6 AUTHORIZE CONSIDERATION OF ANY ADDITIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED IN EXCESS OF REIMBURSEMENT ON THE COMMUTED RATE BASIS WHEN HOUSEHOLD GOODS ARE SHIPPED UNDER THE COMMUTED RATE BASIS SYSTEM. ACCORDINGLY, THE VOUCHER MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.
TO MR. D. W. RAAKA:
FURTHER REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 8, 1971, REFERENCE 6540, WITH ATTACHMENTS, REQUESTING AN ADVANCE DECISION WHETHER YOU MAY PROPERLY CERTIFY FOR PAYMENT A VOUCHER FOR $75 IN FAVOR OF KONRAD B. REINKE, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE FOREST SERVICE, FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE SHIPMENT OF HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS. SUCH CLAIMED EXPENSES ARE ADDITIONAL TO REIMBURSEMENT ALREADY RECEIVED BASED ON THE COMMUTED RATE FOR MOVEMENT OF THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS.
MR. REINKE'S HOUSEHOLD GOODS WERE SHIPPED ON NOVEMBER 29, 1970, PURSUANT TO A CHANGE OF PERMANENT DUTY STATION FROM MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIFORNIA, TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. THE RECORD SHOWS THAT DUE TO ADVERSE ROAD CONDITIONS CAUSED BY HEAVY SNOW AND HIGH WINDS IN THE MAMMOTH LAKES AREA, THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS CARRIER INVOLVED FOUND IT NECESSARY TO PICK UP MR. REINKE'S HOUSEHOLD GOODS IN A SMALL VAN AND SHUTTLE THEM TO BISHOP, CALIFORNIA, WHERE THEY WERE TRANSFERRED TO A LARGER VAN FOR THE TRIP TO SAN DIEGO. FOR THIS "SNOW SHUTTLE" SERVICE THE CARRIER ASSESSED AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF $75 WHICH MR. REINKE PAID AND FOR WHICH HE NOW WISHES REIMBURSEMENT.
REGARDING THE PAYMENT OF THE EXPENSES OF TRANSPORTING HOUSEHOLD GOODS, TITLE 5, U.S.C. 5724(C), READS IN PERTINENT PART:
"(C) UNDER SUCH REGULATIONS AS THE PRESIDENT MAY PRESCRIBE, AN EMPLOYEE WHO TRANSFERS BETWEEN POINTS INSIDE THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES, INSTEAD OF BEING PAID FOR THE ACTUAL EXPENSES OF TRANSPORTING, PACKING, CRATING, TEMPORARILY STORING, DRAYING, AND UNPACKING OF HOUSEHOLD AND PERSONAL EFFECTS, SHALL BE REIMBURSED ON A COMMUTED BASIS AT THE RATES PER 100 POUNDS THAT ARE FIXED BY ZONES IN THE REGULATIONS. *** "
SECTION 6 OF OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A-56, REVISED, OCTOBER 12, 1966, ISSUED UNDER AUTHORITY DELEGATED BY THE PRESIDENT, PROVIDES THAT THE PAYMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE TRANSPORTATION OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS SHALL GENERALLY BE ON A COMMUTED BASIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH A SCHEDULE OF COMMUTED RATES COMPILED BY THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. NEITHER THE LAW NOR THE REGULATIONS AUTHORIZE CONSIDERATION OF ANY ADDITIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED IN EXCESS OF REIMBURSEMENT ON THE COMMUTED RATE BASIS WHEN HOUSEHOLD GOODS ARE SHIPPED UNDER THE COMMUTED RATE BASIS SYSTEM.
THEREFORE, MR. REINKE WAS PROPERLY REIMBURSED BY THE GOVERNMENT ON THE COMMUTED RATE BASIS AND THERE IS NO AUTHORITY FOR REIMBURSING HIM FOR THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED. B-159836, AUGUST 12, 1966, COPY ENCLOSED.
ACCORDINGLY, THE VOUCHER, WHICH WITH ATTACHMENTS IS RETURNED HEREWITH, MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.