B-151235, SEP. 11, 1963
Highlights
HOLMES WAS ONE OF SOME FIFTY EMPLOYEES WHO WERE TRANSFERRED FROM ST. THE EMPLOYEES WERE GIVEN NOTICE ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 3. THEY WERE GIVEN A NEW REPORTING DATE OF MARCH 4. WERE TRANSPORTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE UNDER A SINGLE CONTRACT IN EARLY MARCH 1963. IT IS PROPOSED TO REIMBURSE HIM AT THE ESTABLISHED COMMUTED RATE IN THE SUM OF $250.50. THE MATTER WAS ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED BY YOU FOR ADVANCE DECISION ON MARCH 21. WE POINTED OUT THE ABSENCE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION WHICH MIGHT HAVE A BEARING ON THE QUESTION SUBMITTED AND SAID THAT ON THE THEN PRESENT RECORD CERTIFICATION FOR PAYMENT SHOULD NOT BE MADE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NOW HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM WHICH IT APPEARS THAT ALTHOUGH THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION MAY HAVE HAD THE MATTER OF MASS TRANSPORTATION OF THE EMPLOYEES' EFFECTS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR SOME TIME MR.
B-151235, SEP. 11, 1963
TO MISS MARY E. SMITH, AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, FEDERAL AVIATION AGENCY:
ON AUGUST 1, 1963, FILE MS-430, THE CHIEF, ACCOUNTING DIVISION, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES, TRANSMITTED HERE YOUR LETTER OF JULY 29, 1963, AND ENCLOSURE FILE SW-24, PERTAINING TO THE CLAIM OF RICHARD L. HOLMES FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF STORAGE AND RELATED CHARGES INCIDENT TO HIS PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION AGENCY.
MR. HOLMES WAS ONE OF SOME FIFTY EMPLOYEES WHO WERE TRANSFERRED FROM ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI TO FORT WORTH, TEXAS, IN MARCH 1963. THE EMPLOYEES WERE GIVEN NOTICE ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 3, 1962, OF A TENTATIVE REPORTING DATE OF FEBRUARY 3, 1963. A FEW DAYS LATER, ON NOVEMBER 23, THEY WERE GIVEN A NEW REPORTING DATE OF MARCH 4, 1963.
THE HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS OF THE EMPLOYEES INCLUDING THOSE OF MR. HOLMES, WERE TRANSPORTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE UNDER A SINGLE CONTRACT IN EARLY MARCH 1963. HOWEVER, IN ANTICIPATION OF THE TRANSFER MR. HOLMES SOLD HIS HOME IN ST. LOUIS IN EARLY JANUARY AND PLACED HIS EFFECTS IN STORAGE ON JANUARY 29, 1963, WHERE THEY REMAINED UNTIL PICKED UP BY THE CONTRACT MOVER ON OR ABOUT MARCH 8. FOR THE STORAGE AND RELATED CHARGES HE INCURRED EXPENSES WHICH HE CLAIMED IN THE SUM OF $296. IT IS PROPOSED TO REIMBURSE HIM AT THE ESTABLISHED COMMUTED RATE IN THE SUM OF $250.50.
THE MATTER WAS ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED BY YOU FOR ADVANCE DECISION ON MARCH 21, 1963. IN OUR REPLY DATED MAY 3, 1963, B-151235, WE POINTED OUT THE ABSENCE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION WHICH MIGHT HAVE A BEARING ON THE QUESTION SUBMITTED AND SAID THAT ON THE THEN PRESENT RECORD CERTIFICATION FOR PAYMENT SHOULD NOT BE MADE.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NOW HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM WHICH IT APPEARS THAT ALTHOUGH THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION MAY HAVE HAD THE MATTER OF MASS TRANSPORTATION OF THE EMPLOYEES' EFFECTS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR SOME TIME MR. HOLMES WAS NOT INFORMED THEREOF UNTIL JANUARY 25. SEE CHAPTER 5, SECTION 506 (4) B OF THE AGENCY REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO STORAGE AND SHIPMENT OF EFFECTS. ACTUALLY THE CONTRACT WAS NOT AWARDED UNTIL FEBRUARY 21. IN THE MEANTIME HE HAD DISCUSSED THE MATTER OF THE SALE OF HIS HOME AND THE DISPOSITION OF HIS EFFECTS WITH THE ST. LOUIS CENTER CHIEF IN EARLY JANUARY BUT WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN ANY INFORMATION AS TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE TRANSPORTATION WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT HE WAS AUTHORIZED VERBALLY TO STORE THE EFFECTS WHICH HE DID.
UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES IT APPEARS THAT THE EXPENSES WHICH THE EMPLOYEE INCURRED RESULTED FROM THE AGENCY'S FAILURE TO GIVE HIM TIMELY NOTICE THAT THE EFFECTS WOULD BE MOVED UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTRACT. REIMBURSEMENT ON A COMMUTED BASIS HAS BEEN APPROVED. THEREFORE, THE VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH, MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT ON THAT BASIS, IF OTHERWISE CORRECT.