§ 101-41.102 - GSA responsibilities and functions.

(a) With respect to the audit of transportation payments and under the statutory authority therefor, the Administrator of General Services or his designee is responsible for and will accomplish the functions set forth in paragraphs (a) (1) through (9) of this section.

(1) Examine and analyze payments for freight and passenger transportation services furnished for the account of the United States to determine their validity, propriety, and conformity with tariffs, quotations, agreements, or tenders and make adjustments to protect the interests of the United States;

(2) Examine, adjudicate, and settle transportation claims by and against the United States;

(3) Collect from carriers by refund, setoff, or other means, amounts determined to be due the United States;

(4) Compromise, terminate, or suspend debts due on transportation overcharges;

(5) Prepare reports to the Attorney General of the United States setting forth recommendations regarding the legal and technical bases available for use in prosecuting or defending suits by or against the United States and provide technical, fiscal, and factual data from records relative thereto;

(6) Provide transportation specialists and lawyers to serve as expert witnesses, to assist in pretrial conferences, to draft pleadings, orders, and briefs, and to participate as requested in connection with transportation suits by or against the United States;

(7) Review agency policies, programs, and procedures to determine their adequacy and effectiveness insofar as they relate to the audit of freight and passenger transportation payments, and review related fiscal and transportation practices;

(8) Furnish information on rates, fares, routes, and related technical data to agencies upon request; and

(9) Inform agencies of irregular shipping and routing practices, inadequate commodity descriptions, excessive transportation cost authorizations, and unsound principles employed in traffic and transportation management.

(b) In carrying out the foregoing functions, a designee head of an agency, acting in substance as GSA's audit surrogate, shall forward direct to the General Accounting Office (GAO) matters for consideration by the Comptroller General of the United States or by a division of the GAO or shall forward direct to the Department of Justice matters for its consideration of collection action, litigation, and related proceedings, as prescribed in 4 CFR part 105. A claimant who disagrees with the settlement of his claim by GSA's audit surrogate may request reconsideration by the agency head or review by the Comptroller General of the United States in accordance with the guidelines set forth in subpart 101-41.7. These matters need not be forwarded through GSA.

(c) GSA also makes technical examinations of payments to and claims by or against carriers for transportation services procured on commercial or Government documentation by certain Government agencies and corporations exempted from submitting transportation payment documents for centralized audit.

(d) GSA, independently or in cooperation with other agencies, will confer with individual carriers or carrier groups and associations representing specific modes of transportation to resolve mutual problems concerning technical and accounting matters and to acquaint them with the requirements of the Federal Government.

(e) Carrier accounting and traffic officials are welcome to visit the GSA transportation audit facilities to discuss transportation audit matters. These facilities are located in the GS Building, 18th and F Sts., NW, Washington, DC. The mailing address is General Services Administration (BW), Washington, DC 20405. Notice of an intended visit and, when necessary, an outline or a list of subjects for discussion should be furnished in advance so that necessary internal arrangements can be made and the required records assembled.