[Decision on HHS Employee's Appeal of Claims Group's Determination of Indebtedness for Shipping of Household Goods]

A Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employee appealed the Claims Group's determination that he was indebted to HHS for shipping costs he incurred incident to a transfer for a boat and trailer and for other goods in excess of the weight limit. GAO noted that: (1) a government transportation officer informed the employee that he could ship his boat and trailer at government expense; and (2) the mover improperly calculated the weight of the goods since no scale was available. GAO held that: (1) the employee was not entitled to transportation costs for his boat and trailer since regulations expressly excluded such expenses; and (2) the overweight charges assessed against the employee did not accurately represent the weight shipped. Accordingly, the Claims Group's determination that the employee should pay for shipping his boat and trailer was affirmed, and HHS should properly calculate the goods' constructive weight to determine the charges, if any, for excess weight.