B-176000, JUL 17, 1972

B-176000, JUL 17, 1972

CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE - CHANGE OF STATION - TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCE - COMMUTED RATE DENIAL OF CLAIM OF CYNTHIA S. RICCABONI FOR AN AMOUNT DEDUCTED FROM A VOUCHER SUBMITTED FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CHARGES INCURRED INCIDENT TO A CHANGE OF STATION FROM VIRGINIA BEACH, VA., TO PHILADELPHIA, PA. SINCE CLAIMANT WAS PAID THE AMOUNT PROPERLY DUE HER UNDER THE COMMUTED RATE SYSTEM, SECTION 6.4A, OMB CIRCULAR NO. A-56, SHE MAY NOT BE REIMBURSED FOR ANY ADDITIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE MOVERS STRIKE.

TO MISS CARMELLA J. RIZZO:

THIS REFERS TO YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 13, 1972, REFERENCE A:F:F:V, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING OUR DECISION WHETHER YOU MAY CERTIFY THE ENCLOSED VOUCHER IN THE AMOUNT OF $60 AS RECLAIMED BY MRS. CYNTHIA S. RICCABONI, REPRESENTING TRANSPORTATION CHARGES FOR HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS WHICH YOUR OFFICE DEDUCTED ON HER ORIGINAL VOUCHER INCIDENT TO A TRANSFER OF STATION.

INCIDENT TO A TRANSFER OF DUTY STATION FROM NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, TO PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, MISS RICCABONI SHIPPED 280 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS BY AIR FREIGHT BECAUSE AT THE TIME OF THE TRANSFER THE AFL/CIO TEAMSTERS AND MOVERS WERE ON STRIKE AND IT WAS NOT KNOWN HOW LONG IT WOULD LAST. MISS RICCABONI STATES THAT HER BELONGINGS WERE STORED AT VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA, WHILE SHE WAS ATTENDING A TRAINING COURSE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. SHE PAID $155 TO A. J. BENINATO & SONS, INC., AT VIRGINIA BEACH FOR STORAGE AND $38.03 FOR AIR FREIGHT BY NATIONAL AIRLINES. ACCORDANCE WITH GSA BULLETIN A-2 SHE WAS REIMBURSED ON A COMMUTED BASIS FOR TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE OF HER HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS, THAT IS, $54.32 FOR TRANSPORTATION AND $34 FOR STORAGE.

SUBSECTION 6.4A OF OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A-56, REVISED JUNE 26, 1969, IN EFFECT AT THE TIME THE EFFECTS WERE SHIPPED PROVIDED AS FOLLOWS:

"DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMUTED RATE SYSTEM. UNDER THE COMMUTED RATE SYSTEM AN EMPLOYEE MAKES HIS OWN ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRANSPORTING HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND PERSONAL EFFECTS BETWEEN POINTS WITHIN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES. HE SELECTS AND PAYS THE CARRIER AND IS REIMBURSED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SCHEDULES OF COMMUTED RATES WHICH ARE COMPILED AND DISTRIBUTED BY THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, TOGETHER WITH INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THEIR USE. THE SCHEDULES OF COMMUTED RATES ARE DEVELOPED FROM TARIFFS WHICH THE CARRIERS HAVE FILED WITH THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION AND THEY CONSIST OF TABLES SHOWING THE AMOUNTS ALLOWED PER HUNDRED POUNDS WHEN HOUSEHOLD GOODS ARE TRANSPORTED FOR VARIOUS DISTANCES IN SPECIFIED GEOGRAPHIC AREAS FOR EACH OF THE TYPES OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CARRIER, INCLUDING NOT ONLY TRANSPORTATION BUT ALSO PACKING AND UNPACKING, CRATING, DRAYAGE, AND TEMPORARY STORAGE. THE PROPERTY IS SHIPPED ON A COMMERCIAL BILL OF LADING."

IT IS NOTED THAT UNDER THE ABOVE-CITED REGULATION THE COMMUTED RATE SYSTEM TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE COSTS OF PACKING, UNPACKING AND DRAYAGE OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS INCIDENT TO TRANSPORTATION. SUBSECTION 6.4C PROVIDES THAT WHEN THE COMMUTED RATE SYSTEM IS USED THE GOVERNMENT IS RELIEVED OF THE RESPONSIBILITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE OF SELECTING AND DEALING WITH CARRIERS AND MAKING OTHER ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRANSPORTING EMPLOYEES' HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND PERSONAL EFFECTS. THE SAME IS APPLICABLE TO STORAGE. UNDER THE COMMUTED RATE SYSTEM THE EMPLOYEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR STORAGE AND SHIPMENT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND EFFECTS AT HIS PERSONAL EXPENSE AND HE IS REIMBURSED ON THE COMMUTED BASIS PURSUANT TO THE ABOVE-CITED REGULATIONS. SINCE THE EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN REIMBURSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE RATES AND CHARGES UNDER THE COMMUTED RATE SYSTEM THERE IS NO AUTHORITY TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT.

ACCORDINGLY, THE VOUCHER RETURNED HEREWITH MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.