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              DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE: August 6, 1996
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                              GSBCA 13633
 
 
                        M.A. MORTENSON COMPANY,
 
                                        Appellant, 
 
                                   v.
 
                    GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION,
 
                                        Respondent.
 
        Jeanne M. Forneris, Vice President and General Counsel, M.A.
   Mortenson Company, Minneapolis, MN, counsel for Appellant.
 
        Gabriel  N. Steinberg and  A.R. Dattolo, Office  of Regional
   Counsel, General  Services Administration,  Atlanta, GA,  counsel
   for Respondent.
 
   VERGILIO, Board Judge.
 
                                 ORDER
 
        On July  1, 1996,  the Board received  this appeal  filed by
   M.A.  Mortenson Company  concerning a  denial of  its claim  by a
   contracting  officer of  the  respondent,  the  General  Services
   Administration.   Contracting officer correspondence  attached to
   the appeal indicates that Mortenson and the Memphis-Shelby County
   Airport Authority (of Tennessee) were the parties to the contract
   underlying this paint finish dispute.
 
        Mortenson  has  filed  notice that  it  is  withdrawing this
   appeal, while reserving the right  to reinstate this appeal if it
   is  determined  that  the  Board  is  the  appropriate  venue for
   resolution of this dispute.
 
        Mortenson does not seek  to pursue this appeal  presently at
   this Board.   Without reaching  the jurisdictional  issue or  the
   merits of the  appeal, the Board DISMISSES WITHOUT  PREJUDICE the
   appeal.  Rule 28(a).
 
 
 
                                        ________________________
                                        JOSEPH A. VERGILIO
                                        Board Judge