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Payment Processing: Documentation Procedures For Electronic Billing and Payment Under the Families First Personal Property Program

GAO-05-402R Published: Mar 31, 2005. Publicly Released: Mar 31, 2005.
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Highlights

This letter responds to a Department of the Army request for our views on whether certain payment procedures included in the Defense Department's (DOD) proposed Families First Personal Property Program conform with relevant criteria in GAO's Policy and Procedures Manual for Guidance of Federal Agencies. Families First is a DOD initiative to reengineer its processes for transporting household goods and personal property for its service members and civilians. Army's request is in response to a Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) recommendation that DOD seek our views specifically on whether the proposed procedures for electronic billing and payment meet the supporting documentation requirements in Title VII of GAO's Policy and Procedures Manual for Guidance of Federal Agencies. While the General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for issuing federal regulations for transportation, including moves of household goods and personal property as well as agency prepayment and postpayment audit requirements for transportation payments, we are responsible for issuing fiscal guidance based on authorities in the U.S. Code. We considered DOD's proposed process of electronic billing and payment in light of our requirements established in Title VII for disbursements and related documentation. Our views are based on our understanding of DOD's planned implementation of the Families First program on a conceptual basis. We did not perform tests of the current or proposed system or validate information provided to us.

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Billing proceduresCivilian employeesClaims processingFederal regulationsFinancial analysisGeneral management reviewsGovernment employeesHousehold goodsInternal controlsMilitary personnelPaymentsProgram evaluationProgram managementRelocation expense claimsRisk managementDocumentationPolicies and procedures