B-187366, JUL 6, 1977

B-187366, JUL 6, 1977

1. TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEE WHO STORES HOUSEHOLD GOODS IN UNINHABITABLE PORTION OF HIS RENTAL UNIT MAY NOT BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO TEMPORARY STORAGE SINCE PLACEMENT OF EMPLOYEE'S GOODS AT HIS RESIDENCE MAY NOT SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE. B-187060, OCTOBER 15, 1976, 56 COMP.GEN. . . . (1976). 2. GSA BULLETIN FPMR A-2, SUPP. 56, ATTACHMENT A (MAY 29, 1975), PROVIDES FOR REIMBURSEMENT ONLY FOR EXPENSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH TEMPORARY STORAGE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS IN WAREHOUSES AND PROVIDES THAT COMPARISON BE MADE WITH AMOUNT PAID TO CARRIER.

S. D. VAN HOESEN - HOUSEHOLD GOODS - TEMPORARY STROAGE - RELATED EXPENSES:

PAUL T. MARQUESS, AN AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER OF THE UNITED STATES ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION, BY LETTER OF AUGUST 26, 1976, HAS REQUESTED A DECISION AS TO WHETHER HE MAY CERTIFY A VOUCHER FOR PAYMENT RELATING TO THE STORAGE EXPENSES OF MR. S. D. VAN HOESEN INCIDENT TO A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION.

MR. VAN HOESEN WAS AUTHORIZED TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE (NOT TO EXCEED 30 DAYS) OF HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS PURSUANT TO AUTHORIZATION FOR CHANGE OF OFFICIAL STATION, ORDER NO. CR 30-76.

MR. VAN HOESEN MOVED HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS FROM HIS PRIOR RESIDENCE IN FREDERICK, MARYLAND, TO HIS NEW PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN KINGSTON, TENNESSEE, BY RENTING A TRUCK AND MOVING HIMSELF. UPON ARRIVAL IN KINGSTON, TENNESSEE, MR. VAN HOESEN WAS UNABLE TO MOVE INTO HIS NEW PERMANENT RESIDENCE DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THE SELLER VACATING THE HOUSE.

MR. VAN HOESEN'S TRANSFER AUTHORIZATION WAS AMENDED TO ALLOW 30 DAYS TEMPORARY QUARTERS, AND HE WAS PAID FOR THE TEMPORARY QUARTERS AND THE COMMUNED RATE FOR MOVING HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS FROM FREDERICK, MARYLAND, TO KINGSTON, TENNESSEE.

MR. VAN HOESEN SECURED A RENTAL UNIT IN ROCKWOOD, TENNESSEE, AND STORED HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS IN AN UNINHABITABLE PORTION OF THE RENTAL UNIT. MR. VAN HOESEN HAS REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT OF $30 FOR THE HIRE TO TWO MEN TO UNLOAD THE TRUCK AND MOVE THE FURNITURE INTO THE RENTAL UNIT AND REIMBURSEMENT OF $70 FOR A SUBSEQUENT MOVE FROM THE RENTAL JNIT INTO HIS PERMANENT RESIDENCE. IN ADDITION, MR. VAN HOESEN HAS REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR $50 CONSISTING OF $39 FOR TRUCK RENTAL AND $11 FOR GAS. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TRUCK RENTAL, RECEIPTS WERE NOT FURNISHED BY MR. VAN HOESEN FOR THE CASH PAYMENTS.

WE AGREE WITH THE CONTENTION OF THE CERTIFYING OFFICER THAT THE $30 CLAIMED TO HIRE TWO MEN TO INITIALLY UNLOAD THE TRUCK IS NOT REIMBURSABLE. THE COMMUTED RATE INCLUDES DRAYAGE INCIDENT TO TRANSPORTATION AND MR. VAN HOESEN WAS REIMBURSED FOR THE COMMUTED RATE. SEE B-178234, JUNE 18, 1974, AND FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS, FPMR 101-7, PARA. 2-8.3A(1) (MAY 1973).

WE HAVE SPECIFICALLY HELD THAT THE PLACEMENT OR RETENTION OF AN EMPLOYEE'S GOODS IN HIS RESIDENCE MAY NOT SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THE REGULATIONS RELATING TO TEMPORARY STORAGE. B-187060, OCTOBER 15, 1976, 56 COMP.GEN. . . . (1976).

IN THE ABSENCE OF PLACING THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS IN TEMPORARY STORAGE AS PROVIDED IN THE REGULATIONS, WE ARE UNAWARE OF ANY AUTHORITY THAT WOULD PERMIT REIMBURSEMENT OF THE EXPENSES RELATED TO THE STORAGE OF MR. HOESEN'S HOUSEHOLD GOODS IN HIS RENTAL UNIT.

THEREFORE, FOR THE REASONS SET FORTH ABOVE, MR. VAN HOESEN'S VOUCHER MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.