[Decision Concerning PHS Medical Officer's Claim for Retention Special Pay]

A Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned officer claimed special retention pay, contending that: (1) PHS made him an offer to include the special pay in his annual salary when he incurred a commitment to perform a 4-year period of obligated service; and (2) he was providing his service in a teaching assignment, rather than providing clinical services in a manpower shortage area. GAO held that the claimant was not entitled to enter into a service agreement for retention pay, since he was satisfying a pre-existing service obligation through medical research and teaching instead of through clinical practice. Accordingly, the claim was denied.