(a)  Authority.   These procedures govern the Board's
resolution of claims by federal civilian employees for certain
travel or relocation expenses that were formerly settled by the
Comptroller General under 31 U.S.C.  3702.  Section 201(n)(3) of
the General Accounting Office Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-316,
transfers the authority to resolve these claims to the
Administrator of General Services, who has redelegated that
function to the General Services Administration Board of Contract
Appeals.  The requirements contained in 31 U.S.C.  3702, including
limitations on the time within which claims may be filed, apply to
the Board's review of these claims.  




	(b)    Types of claims.  These procedures are applicable to the
review of two types of claims made against the United States by
federal civilian employees:




		(1) claims for reimbursement of expenses incurred while
on official temporary duty travel; and




		(2) claims for reimbursement of expenses incurred in
connection with relocation to a new duty station.     




	(c)     Review of claims.  Any claim for entitlement to travel or
relocation expenses must first be filed with the claimant's own
department or agency (the agency).  The agency shall initially
adjudicate the claim.  A claimant disagreeing with the agency's
determination may request review of the claim by the Board.  The
burden is on the claimant to establish the timeliness of the claim,
the liability of the agency, and the claimant's right to payment. 
The Board will issue the final decision on a claim based on the
information submitted by the claimant and the agency.

	(a)    Filing claims.  A claim may be sent to the Board in
either of the following ways:   




		(1)    Claim filed by claimant.  A claim shall be in
writing and must be signed by the claimant or by the claimant's
attorney or authorized representative.  No particular form is
required.  The request should describe the basis for the claim and
state the amount sought.  The request should also include: 

			

			(i) the name, address, telephone number, and
facsimile machine number, if available, of the claimant; 

			

			(ii) the name, address, telephone number, and
facsimile machine number, if available, of the agency employee who
denied the claim; 

			

			(iii) a copy of the denial of the claim; and 




			(iv) any other information which the claimant
believes the Board should consider. 




		(2)  Claim forwarded by agency on behalf of claimant.  If
an agency has denied a claim for travel or relocation expenses, it
may, at the claimant's request, forward the claim to the Board. 
The agency shall include the information required by paragraph (1)
of this rule and by Rule 403.




		(3)  Where claims are filed.  A claim should be sent to
the Board at the following address:  Office of the Clerk of the
Board, Room 7022, General Services Administration Building, 1800 F
Street, NW, Washington, DC  20405.  The Clerk's telephone number
is:  (202) 501-0116.  The Clerk's facsimile machine number is: 
(202) 501-0664.  The Board's working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.,  Eastern Time, on each day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or
federal holiday.

    

	(b)    Notice of docketing.  A request for review will be
docketed by the Office of the Clerk of the Board.  A written notice
of docketing will be sent promptly to the claimant and the agency
contact.  The notice of docketing will identify the judge to whom
the claim has been assigned.




	(c)    Service of copy.  The claimant shall send to the agency
employee identified in subparagraph (a)(1)(ii) of this rule, or the
individual otherwise identified by the agency to handle the claim,
copies of all material provided to the Board.  If an agency
forwards a claim to the Board, it shall, at the same time, send to
the claimant a copy of all material sent to the Board.  All
submissions to the Board shall indicate that a copy has been
provided to the claimant or the agency.

	(a)    Content of response.  When a claim has been filed with
the Board by a claimant, within 30 calendar days after docketing by
the Board (or within 60 calendar days after docketing, if the
agency office involved is located outside the 50 states and the
District of Columbia), the agency shall submit to the Board: 




		(1) a simple, concise, and direct statement of its
response to the claim; 




		(2) citations to applicable statutes, regulations, and
cases; and 
	

		(3) any additional information the agency considers
necessary to the Board's review of the claim.  




	(b)  Service of copy.  A copy of these submissions shall also
be sent to the claimant.  To expedite proceedings, if the agency
believes its reasons for denying the claim were sufficiently
explained in the material filed by the claimant, it should notify
the Board and the claimant that it does not intend to file a
response.  

	A claimant may file a reply to the agency response within 30
calendar days after receiving the response (or within 60 calendar
days after receiving the response, if the claimant is located
outside the 50 states and the District of Columbia).  If the claim
has been forwarded by the agency, the claimant shall have 30
calendar days from the time the claim is docketed by the Board (or
60 calendar days after docketing, if the claimant is located
outside the 50 states and the District of Columbia) to reply.  To
expedite proceedings, if the claimant does not wish to reply, the
claimant should so notify the Board and the agency. 

	(a)    Requests for additional time.  The claimant or the agency
may request additional time to make any filing.  




	(b)  Conferences.  The judge will not engage in ex parte
communications involving the underlying facts or merits of the
claim.  The judge may hold a conference with the claimant and the
agency contact, at any time, for any purpose.  The judge may
provide the participants a memorandum reflecting the results of a
conference.




	(c)  Additional submissions.  The judge may require the
submission of additional information at any time.

	The judge will issue a written decision based upon the record,
which includes submissions by the claimant and the agency, and
information provided during conferences.  The claimant and the
agency will each be furnished a copy of the decision by the Office
of the Clerk of the Board.  In addition, all Board decisions are
posted weekly on the Internet.  The Board's Internet address is: 
www.gsbca.gsa.gov.  

	A request for reconsideration may be made by the claimant or
the agency.  Such requests must be received by the Board within 30
calendar days after the date the decision was issued (or within 60
calendar days after the date the decision was issued, if the
claimant or the agency office making the request is located outside
the 50 states and the District of Columbia).  The request for
reconsideration should state the reasons why the Board should
consider the request.  Mere disagreement with a decision or re-
argument of points already made is not a sufficient ground for
seeking reconsideration.  

	The agency shall pay amounts the Board determines are due the
claimant.