Board of Contract Appeals
                 General Services Administration
                      Washington, D.C. 20405



                        __________________

                        December 20, 2005
                        __________________


                         GSBCA 16734-RELO


                 In the Matter of RICHARD WHITLEY


     Richard Whitley, Ashland, OR, Claimant.

     Thomas Boyd, Director, National Business Center, Bureau of
Land Management, Department of the Interior, Denver, CO, appearing
for Department of the Interior.

GOODMAN, Board Judge.

     Claimant is an employee of the Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Land Management. He has requested that this Board review
the agency's decision to deny him reimbursement for certain costs
he incurred during a permanent change of station (PCS) move.

                        Factual Background

     Claimant was transferred from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to
Medford, Oregon, and  reported for duty on September 22, 2003.  He
purchased a home at his new duty station and the settlement was
held on December 1, 2003.  Claimant states that he had remodeling
work performed before he could move into the house on March 26,
2004.  His household goods (HHG) were placed in temporary storage
until he moved into the house, because the temporary quarters
claimant and his family occupied were not large enough for the HHG.

     Claimant's travel orders authorized storage of HHG for ninety
days.  He requested an extension for additional time to store his
HHG beyond the ninety days authorized, and the extension was
denied.  The agency seeks to collect from claimant $2184.57, the
amount claimant apparently paid from his travel advance for storage
costs beyond the authorized ninety days. 

                            Discussion

     The agency denied reimbursement for temporary storage beyond
the ninety days authorized, relying upon two provisions of the
agency's PCS Handbook.  The first provision deals with the time
limitations for temporary storage: 

     Extension of Storage Time Allowed.  The initial 90 days
     of temporary storage may be extended for an additional 90
     days, or portion of it, if warranted.

PCS Handbook ch. VII,  B.
     
     The second provision relied upon by the agency deals with an
extension of the period for temporary quarters subsistence expenses
(TQSE), not storage of HHG:

     Extensions for Construction of New Residence. Often, your
     decision to construct a new house is strictly a personal
     choice.  Encountering delays in construction of a new
     house is usual and such delays are usually foreseen.
     Accordingly, temporary quarters are limited to a maximum
     of 30 days when construction of a new house is involved. 
     No exceptions. 

PCS Handbook ch. V,  G.
     
     The agency concluded that these provisions imply that a
decision by the employee to remodel a home is analogous to a
decision to construct a new home.  The agency reasoned further that
since delays encountered in constructing a new home do not allow
for an extension of the period for TQSE, by analogy an extension of
the initial ninety-day period for temporary storage of HHG is not
allowable when remodeling prevents the employee from occupying the
home within the initial ninety-day period.
          
     The agency's denial of an extension for temporary storage of
HHG is consistent with its internal policy regarding TQSE set forth
in its PCS Handbook and does not conflict with the FTR.  The
provision for extension of the original ninety-day period for
temporary storage of HHG states than an extension "may be allowed,
if warranted," making the decision a matter of agency discretion. 
The agency's analogy and reasoning, finding that the extension was
not warranted, are logical and reasonable.  The agency's
determination to deny an extension was not arbitrary, capricious,
or otherwise an abuse of discretion. 

                             Decision

     The claim is denied.




                                   
____________________________________
                                   ALLAN H. GOODMAN
                                   Board Judge