Board of Contract Appeals
                    General Services Administration
                         Washington, D.C. 20405
 
 
 
                           __________________
 
                              May 29, 1998
                                                     
 
 
                            GSBCA 14550-TRAV
 
 
                     In the Matter of GEORGE OLIVER
 
 
        George Oliver, Waveland, MS, Claimant.
 
        G.  A.  Terrill   and  Judy  Hughes,  Defense   Finance  and
   Accounting Service, Columbus, OH, appearing for Department of the
   Navy.
 
   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 April 2, 1998, claimant, George Oliver, filed the instant
   case with the Board, seeking reimbursement from the Department of
   the Navy  of certain travel expenses incurred  in connection with
   his  temporary overseas duty assignment beginning in August 1997.
   On May 28,  1998, the agency  orally informed the Board  that the
   claimant has  not filed  a claim regarding  this matter  with the
   agency and the  agency has not yet been  afforded the opportunity
   to adjudicate it.
 
                               Discussion
 
        Rule 401(c) of the Board's Rules of Procedure for Travel and
   Relocation  Expenses Cases, 48  CFR 6104.1 (1997),  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.
 
                                Decision
 
        This claim is  dismissed and remanded to the  agency for its
   initial adjudication.
   _______________________________
 
                                      MARY ELLEN COSTER WILLIAMS
                                      Board Judge