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                            September 11, 1997
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                             GSBCA 14238-TRAV


                     In the Matter of MICHAEL G. SMITH


     Michael G. Smith, Parker, CO, Claimant.

     G.A. Terrill, Chief, Travel Division, Defense Finance and
Accounting Service, Columbus Center, Columbus, OH, appearing for
the Department of Defense.

      Brigadier General Roger W. Scearce, Deputy Director for
Finance, Department of the Army, Defense Finance and Accounting
Service, Arlington, VA, appearing for Department of Defense.

PARKER, Board Judge.

                                Background

     On July 10, 1997, the Board received from the Defense Finance
and Accounting Service (DFAS), Columbus Center, a request to
determine whether Mr. Michael Smith is entitled to reimbursement
for certain travel costs.  We docketed the case as a request for a
decision authorized under 31 U.S.C.  3529.

     On September 2, the Board received a letter from DFAS
Headquarters stating that the request had been forwarded to the
Board prematurely and that the matter had not been fully reviewed
within the Department of Defense (DoD).  The letter requested that
the Board dismiss the case and return it to DFAS, and stated that
if further action by the Board is required after review within DFAS
and DoD, DFAS would assist either Mr. Smith or the DFAS disbursing
officer in preparing a submission to the Board.  Mr. Smith was
informed of this request by DFAS, and he has not objected to it.

     On September 4, we received a letter from DFAS, Columbus
Center, stating that its July 10 letter had not been intended to
request an advance decision, but to forward the claim to the Board
on behalf of Mr. Smith.  The letter requests that the Board "route
the claim through the proper channels so that a determination can
be made."

     DFAS, Columbus Center, apparently is asking the Board to
continue processing the case while, at the same time, DFAS
Headquarters is asking us to return it to DoD.  We consider the
letter from DFAS Headquarters to say that Mr. Smith's claim has not
yet been decided by the agency.  We thus are returning the matter
to DFAS for a decision.  If DFAS decides the claim in Mr. Smith's
favor, there will be no need for the Board to become involved.  If
Mr. Smith is not satisfied with DFAS's resolution of the claim, he
may request a review of the matter, either by sending a request to
the Board, or by having DFAS forward the claim on his behalf.  See
Rule 402, 62 Fed. Reg. 25869 (1997)(to be codified at 48 CFR
6104.2).

                                 Decision

     The case is hereby dismissed.





                                   _____________________
                                   ROBERT W. PARKER
                                   Board Judge
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