[Grievance Procedure for Accountable Officers]

A decision was requested as to whether the use of grievance and arbitration procedures by accountable officers who are seeking relief from liability for physical losses or deficiencies of public funds conflicts with the federal relief statute. The Forest Service and the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) negotiated an agreement which provides for the rights of accountable officers who have been determined liable for a loss or deficiency of public funds. Federal regulations provide that an accountable officer may be relieved of liability for a deficiency if his agency and the Comptroller General agree that the loss was not the result of his fault or negligence. GAO found that the grievance procedures granted by federal regulations do not apply to accountable officers because the relief statute constitutes an exclusive administrative remedy in such cases. GAO disagreed with an NFFE argument that relief matters are within the agency's duty to bargain because they constitute conditions of employment. Accordingly, grievance procedures are not applicable to accountable officer cases.