United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao_comptroller_general legislative 2016-06-23 U.S. Government Publishing Office 1996-05-24 monographic deposited born digital 4 p. GA 1.13:B-262168 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-B-262168 P0b002ee18fd4753c f:262168 DGPO 2016-06-23 2016-06-23 GAOREPORTS-B-262168 machine generated eng fdlp COMPTROLLERDECISION GAOREPORTS-B-262168 B-262168 Comptroller General Decision

The Claims Collection Act and 31 U.S.C. sec. 3702(a) provide GAO with jurisdiction over claims submitted by employees against whom liability has been assessed by their agencies. Our review is limited to a review of the agency's legal basis for assessing liability (i.e., the existence of statutory authority or appropriate regulations), whether the agency has followed the applicable statute and regulations, and whether the agency had a rational basis for assessing liability. Where the Panama Canal Commission found that the employee, a contracting officer, failed to comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulation requirement to conduct a market price study prior to extending a contract, a rational basis exists for assessing liability against him. Employee was provided notice and a hearing pursuant to 31 U.S.C. sec. 3716 and agency regulations. The Panama Canal Commission acted properly in using administrative offset procedures to set off his debt against his final salary payments and accumulated leave and is entitled to proceed through the Office of Personnel Management to collect the balance remaining against his Civil Service Retirement Fund account. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-B-262168/html/GAOREPORTS-B-262168.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-B-262168/pdf/GAOREPORTS-B-262168.pdf GAO/B-262168 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-B-262168 Comptroller General Decision GAO/B-262168; John Martino; Title 5 Section 5514 5 U.S.C. 5514 Title 31 Section 3702(a) Title 31 Section 3716 31 U.S.C. 3702(a) 31 U.S.C. 3716