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B-201488 1 (1981-02-25)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadjdm0001 and id is 1 raw text is: DECISIONI FILE: B-201488 MATTER OF: OIGE S : THE. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES WASHINGTON. 0. C. 20548 DATE: February 25, 1981 Purchase of caps for distribution to National Weather Service volunteer observers Purchase of winter caps for distribution as incentive to volunteer participants in National Weather Service weather observation program does not constitute necessary and proper use of appropriated funds, since the caps are in the nature of personal gifts. .An authorized certifying officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has requested our opinion as to theropriety of payment for winter head gear t be-disLria1 to participants in the Volunteer Observer Program of the National Weather Service7(NWS). The invoice is in the sum of $2,486.88, covering the cost of 1,366 caps. NWS is charged with forecasting the weather and measuring and recording the climate of the United States. 15 U.S.C. § 313 (1976). We are told that one means used to accomplish these statutory duties is the Volunteer Observer Program, through which volunteers record and report weather data to NWS. While NWS relies on the volunteers for various tasks associated with weather observation, the agency has difficulty recruiting and maintaining this body of observers. As an incentive to the volunteers, NWS ordered the brightly colored winter caps, which were to be given to the volunteer observers by nN' Substation Network Specialists during their semiannual training and inspection visits. The caps were intended to create esprit de corps among the volunteers, increas- ing their motivation and encouraging them to remain in the program. Since the appropriation for NAA which would be charged with payment for the caps (Department of Commerce Appropriation Act, 1980, Pub. L. No. 96-68, 93 Stat. 416, 424) does not specifically provide for purchase of such items for volunteers, to qualify as a legitimate expenditure the acquisition and subsequent distribution of these items must constitute a necessary expense of NS. See 31 U.S.C. 628 (1976). Our Office has long held that appropriated funds may be used for objects not specifically set forth in an appropriation act only if there is a direct connection between such objects and the purposes for which the appropriation was made, and if the object is essential to carrying out such purpose. 55 Comp. Gen. 346, 347 (1975); 27 id. 679, 681 (1948). /4tfXz7

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