Board of Contract Appeals
                    General Services Administration
                         Washington, D.C. 20405
 
 
 
                    ________________________________
 
                             March 9, 1999
                    ________________________________
 
 
                            GSBCA 14601-RELO
 
 
                      In the Matter of JAMES DAVES
 
 
        James Daves, Lakewood, CO, Claimant.
 
        Gwendolyn Graham and Helen M.  Sanders, Accounting Division,
   Federal Aviation Administration, Atlanta,  GA, appearing for  the
   Department of Transportation.
 
   WILLIAMS, Board Judge.
 
        The instant claim is dismissed as premature because claimant
   has  not   submitted  the  claim   to  the  agency   for  initial
   adjudication.
 
                               Background
 
        On June 5, 1998,  claimant, James Daves, filed  a claim with
   the Board seeking  additional relocation expenses  in conjunction
   with a permanent change of station.  Specifically, Mr. Daves  was
   seeking  certain real  estate  expenses  and  temporary  quarters
   subsistence expenses.
 
        In response  to claimant's claim  filed with the  Board, the
   agency  advised the  Board  that  it believed  that  some of  the
   expenses  that were disallowed from Mr. Daves's vouchers may have
   been reimbursed  after further review,  additional documentation,
   or clarification.  The agency  pointed out that Mr. Daves had not
   sought review  by  the agency  of  any of  these  items prior  to
   submitting the claim to the Board.
 
 
        On  February 22, 1999, the  Board orally confirmed  with the
   Federal  Aviation Administration's  Accounting Operations  Branch
   for Travel and Transportation that  the agency had not been asked
   to review claimant's  claim.  This office advised  the Board that
   it had not completed a review of Mr. Daves s claim and that based
   upon additional  information claimant has  recently provided  the
   agency might grant reimbursement of some items.
 
                               Discussion
 
        Rule 401(c) of the Board's Rules of Procedure for Travel and
   Relocation Expenses Cases provides that any claim for entitlement
   to travel  or relocation  expenses must first  be filed  with the
   claimant's  own department  or agency  and that  the agency  must
   initially adjudicate the claim.  A claimant  disagreeing with the
   agency's determination  may request  review  by this  Board.   As
   such, it would be premature for this Board to address the instant
   claim.  Richard E. Benson, GSBCA 14371-RELO (Jan. 9, 1998).
 
                                Decision
 
        This claim is  dismissed and remanded to the  agency for its
   initial adjudication.
   ________________________________
 
                                      MARY ELLEN COSTER WILLIAMS
                                      Board Judge
 
   cc:
   Ms. Blanca Sloan
   Federal Highway Administration
   400 7th Street, S.W., Room 4306
   Washington, DC 20590