Guidance for Use of Miscellaneous Payments

1. Situation. A post-pay review of fiscal years 2022 
And 2023 miscellaneous payments show an average 54% error rate 
across the miscellaneous type codes sampled.  Examples of errors 
include incorrect payment type code, missing documentation, 
duplicate payments, incorrect payment system, inadequate funding, 
and unauthorized entitlements.  Errors in processing miscellaneous 
payments result in waste, and possible fraud and abuse.  Government 
personnel executing miscellaneous payments must utilize volume 10, 
chapters 11 and 12 of ref a, to verify that the payment is compliant 
with regulation.  Guidance is provided in this message to strengthen 
processes and reduce errors in the miscellaneous payment process.
2. Background. A miscellaneous payment is described in Ref A and Ref 
C. Miscellaneous payment is not a method of procurement.  
Miscellaneous payment is a method of payment for government 
obligations approved under existing authorities.  Miscellaneous 
payments may not be made to pay expenses that are not recognized as 
a valid government obligation. Type codes miscellaneous payment 
vendor (MISV) and miscellaneous payments employee (MISE) are 
flexible miscellaneous payment categories listed in the DoD 
guidebook for use by exception only.  The lack of structure 
surrounding these payment categories presents risk of fraud, waste, 
and abuse with their use.  Requests for payment in which the method 
of procurement is invalid, or otherwise not authorized, must be 
reported as unauthorized commitments and will be ratified prior to 
the payment being issued.
3. Mission. Requisitioning activities shall ensure key roles for the 
miscellaneous payments process are filled, and that miscellaneous 
payments are only made for expenses authorized in the references in 
order to prevent unauthorized commitments and ensure all requisition 
are advantageous to the government.
4. Execution.
4.a. Concept of operations. 
4.a.1. Miscellaneous payment actions must follow the requirements of 
a miscellaneous payment category that is defined within Ref A 
volume 10, chapters 11 and 12, or Ref C.  Miscellaneous payments are 
not authorized for expenses that fall outside the authorities listed 
in Ref A or Ref C. 
4.a.2. Utilization of miscellaneous payments for goods or services 
to circumvent the requirements of the federal acquisition regulation 
is prohibited.
4.a.3. The references of this message outline government personnel 
payment authorities for specific expenses.  Any payments made 
outside of or contrary to these references are prohibited.
4.a.4. To ensure segregation of duties in accordance with volume 5 
of Ref A, the certifying official for a WAWF MP transaction cannot 
also process acceptance in WAWF for the same transaction.  
4.a.5. To establish auditability and to validate entitlement systems 
and payment records, a copy of all supporting documentation must 
accompany each miscellaneous payment initiation in WAWF. 
Documentation must be iaw Ref D to allow an independent third party, 
such as an external auditor, to understand and verify the basis of 
the entitlement, to include the authority for the reimbursement as a 
liability of the DoD.
4.b. Tasks.
4.b.1. Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics (DC, IL).  
Provide oversight on the updated guidance as required.
4.b.2. Fleet Marine Force and supporting establishments.
4.b.2.a. Ensure compliance with this directive among subordinate 
commands and provide additional guidance as necessary.
4.b.2.b. Ensure all requisitioning activities have properly 
appointed key personnel to process miscellaneous payments.
4.b.2.c. For each miscellaneous payment, ensure the WAWF acceptor 
and WAWF miscellaneous payments certifier are not the same person. 
The functions of government acceptance and voucher certification are 
to be performed by different personnel to maintain separation of 
duties and procedural integrity.
4.c. Coordinating instructions.
4.c.1. Key personnel. Every requisitioning activity requires a 
properly appointed WAWF acceptor in WAWF and WAWF miscellaneous 
payments certifier in Defense Agencies Initiative (DAI) to process a 
miscellaneous payment.
4.c.1.a. Personnel must be correctly assigned to their unit's 
workflow in DAI before submission to avoid documents routing to the 
default certifier and delaying payment.
4.c.1.b. Documents routed to the default certifier in DAI will be 
returned to the paying activity for processing once a WAWF 
miscellaneous payments certifier has been assigned, causing a delay 
in payment processing.
4.c.1.c. Duty station changes and operational requirements can 
create a gap in government acceptance and certification capability 
resulting in delayed vendor payments and prompt payment interest.  
The key roles WAWF acceptor in WAWF and WAWF miscellaneous payments 
certifier in DAI must be consistently assigned and maintained to 
ensure accurate and timely processing of payments. 
4.c.2. Key personnel and personnel utilizing miscellaneous payment 
methods must familiarize themselves with Ref A, as well as Ref C the 
DoD guidebook for miscellaneous payments.  Miscellaneous payments 
can be made under various authorities, refer to each individual 
miscellaneous payment type for the specific authoritative reference 
for its utilization.
5. Administration and logistics.
5.a. A copy of this policy shall be posted as appropriate to local 
command directives sites.
5.b. Per Ref L, financial documentation will be retained for a 
period of ten years (three years active and seven years archived) 
and be readily available for audit purposes.
6. Command and signal. Questions concerning the contents of this 
message will be directed to the contacts listed above.
7. Release authorized by Major General Andrew M. Niebel, Assistant Deputy 
Commandant for Installations and Logistics.