§ 247.7 - Certification and internal agency control.

(a) A FedSelect check is not a check drawn on the United States Treasury. However, where the drawer of a FedSelect check is the United States, the requirements and procedures for disbursing and certifying activities under 31 U.S.C. 3321, 3527 and 3528 apply to agency accountable officers issuing FedSelect checks.

(b) FedSelect checks shall be drawn by an individual who is duly authorized by the agency, and shall be certified by a certifying officer.

(c) When an agency issues a FedSelect check in payment of a United States obligation, such agency certifies the issuance of the payment contemporaneous to the issuance of the FedSelect check. Therefore, where FedSelect checks are issued through an automated system, certification occurs through the on-line data transfer between the agency issuing a FedSelect check and the FMS.

(d) Agencies shall ensure that there are proper internal controls over the issuance of FedSelect checks, including payment authorization, check issuance, and reconciliations. Payment authorization is the process by which vouchers or invoices are approved for payment by individuals designated to do so by the head of the agency, or their designees. Check issuance is the physical issuance of a FedSelect check in payment of a duly approved voucher or invoice. Reconciliation is the process by which amounts authorized for payment are verified against amounts of checks issued.