[Decision Concerning HHS Use of Appropriated Funds to Purchase Business Cards]

The Department of Health and Human Services' Parklawn Computer Center requested a decision on the propriety of its use of service fees to purchase business cards. The center noted that its status as a fee-for-service nonappropriated fund facility exempted it from regulations regarding the use of public funds for purchasing business cards. GAO held that the fees the center collected from other agencies constituted appropriated funds, since it had statutory authority to collect and use the fees to cover its expenses. Accordingly, the center could not use the fees to purchase business cards.