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

                         ________________

                          April 6, 1999
                        _________________


                         GSBCA 14883-TRAV


                In the Matter of TIMOTHY P. TWIGG


     Timothy P. Twigg, California, MD,  Claimant.

     R.M. James, Jr., Director, Civilian Personnel Programs Division, Office of the
Assistant Secretary, Department of the Navy, Washington, DC, appearing for Department
of the Navy.

PARKER, Board Judge.

     On a non-workday in the middle of a long-term temporary duty assignment in Eagan,
Minnesota, Timothy Twigg returned home to Maryland for his annual doctor visit.  In
evaluating Mr. Twigg's claim for reimbursement of the $960.29 in travel expenses he
incurred in connection with the trip, his employer, the Department of the Navy, determined
that, because it would have been cheaper for Mr. Twigg to have remained in Eagan during
the non-workday on which he traveled, Mr. Twigg was entitled to be reimbursed in an
amount not to exceed the per diem and travel expenses that he would have incurred had he
stayed in Eagan.  The Navy thus reimbursed Mr. Twigg in the amount of $50, his per diem
amount for Eagan.  Mr. Twigg has asked the Board to review the Navy's decision.

     An employee who is on a temporary duty (TDY) assignment may return voluntarily
to his permanent duty station on non-workdays.  If he does, however, "reimbursement for the
round-trip travel [shall not] exceed the per diem and travel expenses payable had the
employee remained at the TDY station."  Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) C4563-D.  Thus,
if Mr. Twigg's return to Maryland was "voluntary," he has been properly reimbursed.

     There are limited situations in which a return to the employee's permanent duty station
during a long-term TDY assignment would not be considered to be voluntary.  If an
employee discontinues a TDY assignment before its conclusion because of "incapacitating
illness or injury," or because of a "personal emergency situation," the Department of Defense
(DoD) may pay for the employee's return to his official duty station.  JTR C6450, C6454-B,
C6455-A.  DoD may also pay transportation costs if, prior to authorizing the return trip, the
DoD component conducts a cost analysis which shows that the costs of the non-workday
travel are outweighed by savings in terms of increased efficiency and productivity, as well
as reduced costs of recruiting resulting from increased retention of employees subject to
frequent and extended TDY.  JTR C4662-D.  Mr. Twigg has provided no evidence to show
that any of these provisions applies to his situation.  Accordingly, the Navy properly
determined that Mr. Twigg's return to his permanent duty station was voluntary, and that his
claim for reimbursement of additional travel expenses should be denied.



                                   ______________________
                                   ROBERT W. PARKER
                                   Board Judge