(a) Who May Request an Advance Decision. A disbursing or certifying official or the Head of a Component may request an advance decision on a question involving:

(1) A payment the disbursing official or Head of the Component shall make; or

(2) A voucher presented to a certifying official for certification.

(b) Who May Render an Advance Decision. The following officials are authorized to render an advance decision concerning the matters indicated:

(1) The Secretary of Defense for requests involving claims under:

(i) 31 U.S.C. 3702 for Uniformed Services members' pay, allowances, travel, transportation, retired pay, and survivor benefits, and by carriers for amounts collected from them for loss or damage to property they transported at Government expense.

(ii) 31 U.S.C. 3702 that are not described in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this Appendix and that arise from the activity of a DoD Component, when there is no other settlement authority specifically provided by law.

(iii) 10 U.S.C. 2575, 10 U.S.C. 2771, 24 U.S.C. 420, 10 U.S.C. 4712, 10 U.S.C. 9712, 37 U.S.C. 554, and 32 U.S.C. 714. Appendix B to this part describes these claims.

(2) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management for requests involving claims for civilian employees' compensation and leave.

(3) The Administrator of General Services for requests involving claims for civilian employees' travel, transportation, and relocation expenses.

(c) Where to Submit a Request. All requests described in paragraph (b)(1) of this Appendix and all other requests arising from the activity of a DoD Component (even if addressed to an official outside the Department of Defense) must be sent through the General Counsel of the Component concerned to the following address: General Counsel, Department of Defense, 1600 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1600.

(d) Content of a Request. Requests for an advance decision must:

(1) Specifically request an advance decision pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3529;

(2) Describe all the relevant facts;

(3) Explain the reasons (both factual and legal) the requester considers the proposed payment to be questionable;

(4) Have attached vouchers, if any, and copies of all other relevant documents relating to the proposed payment;

(5) Have attached a legal memorandum from the General Counsel of the Component concerned that discusses the legality of the proposed payment under the circumstances presented in the request; and

(6) Comply with any other requirements established by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management or the Administrator of General Services.

(e) Advance Decisions. The GC, DoD must take action under paragraphs (e)(1), (e)(2), or (e)(3) of this Appendix, whichever applies.

(1) If the request is described in paragraph (b)(1) of this Appendix, the GC, DoD must review the request and issue an advance decision, unless the GC, DoD elects to proceed under paragraph (e)(3) of this Appendix.

(i) The GC, DoD must send the decision, through the General Counsel of the Component concerned, to the requester, and must send a copy of the decision to the Director, DOHA for publication according to Appendix A to this part, paragraph (f).

(ii) The decision is controlling in the case; the reliance of certifying and disbursing officials on it in their disposition of the case is evidence that those officials have exercised due diligence in the performance of their duties.

(iii) An advance decision is precedent in similar claims under this part unless otherwise stated in the decision.

(2) If the request is not described in paragraph (b)(1) of this Appendix, the GC, DoD must review the request and either:

(i) Forward the request to the appropriate advance decision authority and notify the requester of that action; or

(ii) Return the request, through the General Counsel of the Component concerned, to the requester, with a memorandum explaining that under existing legal authorities a request for an advance decision is not necessary. After considering the memorandum, the requester may resubmit the request, through the General Counsel of the Component concerned, to the GC, DoD. The GC, DoD must forward the request to the appropriate advance decision authority, and notify the requester of that action.

(3) If the request is described in paragraph (b)(1) of this Appendix, and the claim is for not more than $250, the GC, DoD may refer the request to the General Counsel, Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). The General Counsel, DFAS, shall review the request and issue an advance decision.

(i) The General Counsel, DFAS, must send the decision, through the General Counsel of the Component concerned, to the requester, and must send a copy of the decision to the GC, DoD.

(ii) The decision is controlling in the case; the reliance of certifying and disbursing officials on it in their disposition of the case is evidence that those officials have exercised due diligence in the performance of their duties.

(iii) An advance decision issued by the General Counsel, DFAS, under this paragraph is not precedent in similar claims under this part.