Board of Contract Appeals

                    General Services Administration

                         Washington, D.C. 20405

 

 

                           _________________

 

                           February 29, 2000

                           __________________

 

 

                            GSBCA 15140-RELO

 

 

                     In the Matter of MUKESH NIGAM

 

 

        Mukesh Nigam, Norwood, MA, Claimant.

 

        Jeanette  Bushner,  Chief,  Travel  Section, Austin  Finance

   Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, Austin, TX, appearing for

   Department of Veterans Affairs.

 

   PARKER, Board Judge.

 

        In May 1999, Mukesh Nigam was appointed as a new employee to

   a position  as an anesthesiologist at the West Roxbury Department

   of  Veterans  Affairs  (VA)  Medical   Center  in  Massachusetts.

   Initially, Dr. Nigam asked the Board to review VA s denial of his

   claim for  $3958.41 in moving  expenses and $376.85  in temporary

   quarters expenses.  While the matter was pending at the Board, VA

   decided  to reimburse  Mr. Nigam  for his  moving expenses.   Mr.

   Nigam has asked that  the Board proceed  with its review of  VA s

   decision   not  to  reimburse  him  for  the  temporary  quarters

   expenses.

 

        The VA s decision  not to reimburse Mr.  Nigam for temporary

   quarters expenses was correct.   According to the  Federal Travel

   Regulation (FTR), new appointees are eligible for payment of only

   certain travel and transportation expenses:

 

        (1)  Travel  expenses,  including  per  diem  for   the

             appointee . . . ;

 

        (2)  Transportation for immediate family of appointee .

             . . ;

 

        (3)  Mileage if privately owned vehicle is used . . . ;

 

        (4)  Transportation and temporary  storage of household

             goods . . . ;

 

        (5)  Nontemporary   storage  of   household  goods   if

             appointed to an isolated location . . . ; and

 

                                                                   2

 

        (6)  Transportation of mobile homes . . . .

 

   41 CFR 302-1.10(e) (1999).  Items not specifically listed in this

   section, such as per diem  for the employee s family, subsistence

   while  occupying  temporary   quarters,  miscellaneous  expenses,

   residence sale and purchase expenses, and lease-breaking expenses

   are  specifically not  allowable.    41  CFR  302-1.10(f);  Wendy

   Castineira, GSBCA  15092-RELO (Dec.  14, 1999).   VA thus  had no

   authority to pay the claimed expenses for temporary quarters.

 

                                Decision

 

        The claim is denied.

 

 

 

                                      _________________________

                                      ROBERT W. PARKER

                                      Board Judge