[Query Regarding Payment of Rental Car Insurance and Collision Damage Waiver]

An authorized certifying officer of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) requested an advance decision as to whether a rental car agency may be paid for collision damage waiver and personal accident insurance which was agreed to by an EEOC contracting officer under an agreement between the rental agency and EEOC. GAO stated that Federal Travel Regulations, which were issued pursuant to a direct statutory mandate, prohibit payment or reimbursement of the costs of collision damage waivers or insurance when official travel in the rental vehicle is performed wholly within the conterminous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or U.S. territories and possessions. Notwithstanding the erroneous action by a Government agent approving such payment, the United States is not estopped to deny his unauthorized or misleading commitments. Accordingly, the claim for payment of these costs was denied.