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




                         ________________

                         January 3, 2007
                         ________________


                         GSBCA 16955-TRAV


             In the Matter of KHAYRIYYAH B. ALI-MORON


     Khayriyyah B. Ali-Moron, Lansing, IL, Claimant.

     Dennis Czulewicz, Director, Division of Accounting Operations, Accounting
Management Group, Office of Financial Management, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Baltimore, MD, appearing for
Department of Health and Human Services.

GOODMAN, Board Judge.

     Claimant, Khayriyyah B. Ali-Moron, is an employee of the Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS).  She has requested that this Board review the agency's denial of
reimbursement for certain expenses she incurred during temporary duty (TDY) travel.

                       Factual Background
                                
     Claimant performed TDY travel from July 24-28, 2006.  Claimant states that she
routinely has been authorized to use a rented minivan at the TDY destination when she
travels with two other employees, as the volume of luggage and documents that they take
with them require a vehicle of that size.  Before her travel orders were issued in this
instance, she submitted a travel estimate expenditure report to her supervisor which indicated
estimated costs for the travel to be accomplished, including the costs of rental of a minivan,
a travel itinerary noting the use of a minivan, and the names of the other two travelers.  Her
supervisor issued travel orders which authorized the expenditure of the costs included in the
travel estimate expenditure report and authorized travel to the TDY destination by air carrier
and the use of a rental vehicle at the destination.

      After completing her travel, claimant submitted a travel voucher which was randomly
selected for prepayment audit.  The HHS auditor disallowed $22.83, the additional cost
associated with the rental of the van for four days in excess of the cost of renting a full-size
car.  Claimant has requested that this Board review the agency's denial of reimbursement of
this amount, as she maintains she was authorized the use of a minivan and should not have
to bear the cost differential herself.

                           Discussion

     The Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) states that the agency may authorize travel for
TDY by special conveyance such as commercial rental automobile if the agency determines
that the use of a rental vehicle is advantageous to the Government.  41 CFR 301-10.3(d),
-10.400, -10.450 (2005).  The regulations do not provide specific guidelines as to how travel
orders should indicate the size of an authorized rental vehicle.  The HHS auditor refers to the
Center for Medicaid and Medicaid Services (CMS) Travel Handbook, which states:

     If you are traveling alone or with one other traveler, you should reserve a
     compact car or intermediate size car.  If you are traveling with at least two
     other passengers, you may reserve a full size vehicle, if authorized.  In some
     instances, groups of travelers may rent a van or similar vehicle.  An
     explanation should be included in the "Remarks" section of the automated
     travel system indicating why a full size car or van was necessary and include
     the names of the other travelers occupying the vehicle.

CMS Handbook at 15.

     The auditor disallowed the differential between the cost of a minivan and a full-size
car, finding that the claimant was required to bear the cost differential because she did not
use the authorized method of transportation.  41 CFR 301-10.6.  

     The auditor's disallowance is not correct.  Even though claimant's travel orders were
not completed in strict compliance with the CMS Handbook, she had submitted detailed
documentation requesting the use of and approval of the costs for the minivan before her
travel orders were issued.  Her travel orders approved expenditures as indicated in claimant's
documentation and authorized her to travel by rental car.  Accordingly, claimant adequately
justified the use of a minivan before the travel orders were issued, the travel orders
authorized the expenditures as requested, and claimant traveled by the approved method of
transportation.  She is entitled to reimbursement for the cost differential for the rental of the
minivan.

                            Decision
                                
     The claim is granted.




                                   ___________________________________
                                   ALLAN H. GOODMAN
                                   Board Judge