Costs included in the fees. Fees for official services in §§ 868.90 and 868.91 include—

The cost of performing the service and related supervision and administrative costs;

The cost of per diem, subsistence, mileage, or commercial transportation to perform the service for rice inspection only in § 868.91, table 1. See § 868.90, table 1, footnote 1, for fees for inspection of commodities other than rice.

The cost of first-class mail service;

The cost of overtime and premium pay; and

The cost of certification except as provided in § 868.92(c).

Computing hourly rates. Hourly fees will be assessed in quarter hour increments for—

Travel from the FGIS field office or assigned duty location to the service point and return; and

The performance of the requested service, less mealtime.

Additional fees. Fees in addition to the applicable hourly or unit fee will be assessed when—

An applicant requests more than the original and three copies of a certificate;

An applicant requests onsite typing of certificates or typing of certificates at the FGIS field office during other than normal working hours; and

An applicant requests the use of express-type mail or courier service.

Application of fees when service is delayed by the applicant. Hourly fees will be assessed when—

Service has been requested at a specified location;

A Service representative is on duty and ready to provide service but is unable to do so because of a delay not caused by the Service; and

FGIS officials determine that the Service representative(s) cannot be utilized elsewhere or cannot be released without cost to the Service.

Application of fees when an application for service is withdrawn or dismissed. Hourly fees will be assessed to the applicant for the scheduled service if the request is withdrawn or dismissed after the Service representative departs for the service point or if the request for service is not withdrawn or dismissed by 2 p.m. of the business day preceding the date of scheduled service. However, hourly fees will not be assessed to the applicant if FGIS officials determine that the Service representative can be utilized elsewhere or if the Service representative can be released without cost to the Service.

To whom fees are assessed. Fees for official services including additional fees as provided in § 868.92(c) shall be assessed to and paid by the applicant for the Service.

Advance payment. As necessary, the Administrator may require that fees shall be paid in advance of the performance of the requested service. Any fees paid in excess of the amount due shall be used to offset future billings, unless a request for a refund is made by the applicant.

Time and form of payment—(1) Fees for Federal inspection service. Bills for fees assessed under the regulations for official services performed by FGIS shall be paid by check, draft, or money order, payable to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Grain Inspection Service.

Fees for cooperator inspection service. Fees for inspection services provided by a cooperator shall be paid by the applicant to the cooperator in accordance with the cooperator's fee schedule.