Board of Contract Appeals
                    General Services Administration
                         Washington, D.C. 20405
 
 
 
                          ___________________
 
                           February 20, 1998
                          ___________________
 
 
                            GSBCA 14146-TRAV
 
                   In the Matter of ALAN L. PETERSEN
 
 
        Alan L. Petersen, Dallas, TX, Claimant.
        Robert  G. McSwain,  Acting Director,  Office of  Management
   Support,  Public  Health  Service, Rockville,  MD,  appearing for
   Department of Health and Human Services.
   WILLIAMS, Board Judge.
 
        Claimant,  Alan L. Petersen,  a uniformed service  member of
   the  Public Health  Service  (PHS) serving  on  active duty,  has
   requested that the Board resolve his travel claim.  Specifically,
   claimant,   a   frequent  traveler,   asks   that  we   authorize
   reimbursement of a $2 monthly account fee on his checking account
   as  well  as  the   service  charge  for  printing   checks  used
   exclusively  to pay  Government travel  expenses.   Because  this
   Board  does not have jurisdiction over uniformed service members'
   travel  claims,  we dismiss  the  case  and  transfer it  to  the
   Department of Defense.
 
        Effective June 30, 1996, Congress transferred administrative
   responsibility for claims settlement functions as  previously set
   forth in  31  U.S.C.    3702 to  the Director  of  the Office  of
   Management and  Budget (OMB).  Legislative  Branch Appropriations
   Act,  1996, Pub.  L. No.  104-53,    211(a),  109 Stat.  514, 535
   (1995).   The Director of  OMB delegated to the  General Services
   Administration  the functions pertaining to travel and relocation
   expense  claims of federal civilian employees.  The Administrator
   of General Services  re-delegated these functions to  this Board.
   At the same time, the OMB Director delegated to the Department of
   Defense  the settlement functions pertaining to claims related to
   uniformed    service    members'   pay,    allowances,    travel,
   transportation,  retired  pay,  and  survivors'  benefits.    OMB
   Determination with Respect  to Transfer of Functions  Pursuant to
   Public Law  104-53, Attachment A.    These assignments  have more
   recently  been confirmed by  statute.  General  Accounting Office
   Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-3165,   202(n), 110 Stat. 3826, 3843
   (1996); see 31 U.S.C.A.   3702(a) (West Supp. 1997).
 
        Claimant  is a  uniformed  service  member,  not  a  federal
   civilian  employee.  By statute, "[t]he term 'uniformed services'
   means  the  Army, Navy,  Air  Force, Marine  Corps,  Coast Guard,
   National  Oceanic  and  Atmospheric  Administration,  and  Public
   Health Service."  37 U.S.C.   101(c)(3) (1988); see also 62 Comp.
   Gen.  462 (1983)  (commissioned officers  of  PHS are  considered
   members   of   a   uniformed  service).[foot #] 1      We,  thus,
   dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction and  transfer it to the
   Department of Defense for resolution.
 
                                      ____________________________
                                      MARY ELLEN COSTER WILLIAMS
                                      Board Judge
 
                                                                    
                   ----------- FOOTNOTE BEGINS ---------
 
        [foot #] 1 In  general, 37 U.S.C.   404 addresses travel and
   transportation allowances authorized foruniform service members.