Volume 100 · 3508
Public Law 99–627
To amend section 3726 of title 31, United States Code, relating to payment for transportation, to permit prepayment audits for selected transportation bills, to permanently authorize payment of transportation audit contractors from carrier overpayments collected, to authorize net overpayments collected to be transferred to the Treasury, and for other purposes.
Approved November 7, 1986
Statutory text
An Act
To amend section 3726 of title 31, United States Code, relating to payment for transportation, to permit prepayment audits for selected transportation bills, to permanently authorize payment of transportation audit contractors from carrier overpayments collected, to authorize net overpayments collected to be transferred to the Treasury, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That section 3726 of title 31, United States Code, is amended—
(1) Regulations.
in subsection (a) by striking out the first sentence and insert in lieu thereof the following: “A carrier or freight forwarder presenting a bill for transporting an individual or property for the United States Government may be paid before the Administrator of General Services conducts an audit, in accordance with regulations that the Administrator shall prescribe.”;
by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; and
by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsections:
“(c) Contracts.
Expenses of transportation audit contracts and contract administration shall be financed from overpayments collected from carriers on transportation bills paid by the Government and other similar type refunds at not to exceed 40 percent of such collections annually. Payment to any contractor shall not exceed 50 percent of the overpayments identified by any contract audit.
“(d) Contracts.
At least annually, and as determined by the Administrator, after making adequate provision for expenses of refunds to carriers, transportation audit contracts, and contract administration authorized in subsection (c), the balance of the overpayments collected by the General Services Administration shall be transferred
Reports.
to miscellaneous receipt of the Treasury. A report of receipts, disbursements, and transfers (to miscellaneous receipts) pursuant to this section shall be made annually in connection with the budget estimates to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and to the Congress.
“(e) The Administrator may delegate any authority conferred by this section to another agency or agencies if the Administrator determines that such a delegation would be cost-effective or otherwise in the public interest.”.
Sec. 2.
Within 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of General Services shall establish a task force to study and investigate the feasibility, desirability, and economy of an integrated, automated system that Federal agencies may use in managing the transportation of property for the United States.
The task force established under subsection (a) shall—
be chaired by a representative of the Administrator;
include representatives of the Department of Defense and other Federal agencies significantly involved in the transportation of property for the United States; and
solicit the views of private businesses with expertise in the
Business and industry.
matters being considered by the task force.
In studying and investigating the integrated, automated system, the task force shall consider including in that system such elements as automated routing, rating, documentation, payment, and auditing.
Each department, agency, and instrumentality of the Federal Government shall furnish to the task force, upon its request, such data, reports, and other information (not otherwise prohibited by law) as the task force deems necessary to carry out its functions under this section.
The head of each such department, agency, and instrumentality may provide to the task force such services and personnel as the task force requests on such basis (reimbursable or otherwise) as may be agreed upon between such department, agency, or instrumentality and the task force.
The task force shall submit a final report on the results of its
Reports.
study and investigation to the Congress not later than July 1, 1988.
Sec. 3.
Section 402(a)(1) of the Federal Property and Administrative
Imports.
Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 512(a)(1)) is amended by striking out but in no event shall any property be sold without a condition forbidding its importation into the United States, unless the Secretary of Agriculture (in the case of any agricultural commodity, food, or cotton or woolen goods) or the Secretary of Commerce (in the case of any other property) determines that the importation of such property would relieve domestic shortages or otherwise be beneficial to the economy of this country”.
Applications pending before the Secretary of Commerce or the
40 USC 512 note.
Secretary of Agriculture on, or received after, the date of enactment of this Act for authorization to import property under section 402(a)(1) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 shall be returned without action, and applicants shall be informed in writing that authorization is no longer required after such date.
The amendment made by subsection (a) shall not affect any
40 USC 512 note.
civil or criminal proceeding instituted by the United States prior to the date of enactment of this Act.
Approved November 7, 1986.