March 19, 2007


                          CBCA 515-RELO


               In the Matter of DANNY DEAN BUTRICK


     Danny Dean Butrick, Dugway, UT, Claimant.

     Judy Hughes, Standards and Compliance, Finance Mission Area-Travel Pay, Defense
Finance and Accounting Service, Columbus, OH, appearing for Department of Defense.

GOODMAN, Board Judge.
     
     Claimant is a civilian employee of the Department of the Army.  We review an
agency determination that he is not entitled to certain expenses incurred during a permanent
change of station (PCS) move.  

                                                       Factual Background
                                
     Claimant was issued PCS orders to transfer from Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, to 
the United States Army Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, and report to duty on July 3, 2006. 
He requested that he be granted transportation allowances to move his mobile home in lieu
of allowances for moving his household goods (HHG), as his mobile home was his primary
residence at the old and new duty stations.  Allowances to move his mobile home were
included in funding his transfer and approved by the disbursing official at Dugway Proving
Ground, his new permanent duty station (PDS).  His travel orders authorized the movement
of his mobile home in accordance with the Department of Defense's Joint Travel
Regulations (JTR) for civilian employees, at paragraph C5255.

     After claimant completed his travel, he submitted his claim for reimbursement of
expenses incurred in his PCS move.  According to DFAS, claimant did not seek
reimbursement for preparation and resettling costs for his mobile home, and therefore he was
only reimbursed $.11 per mile for moving his mobile home by privately owned vehicle
(POV).  The disbursing official at claimant's new PDS has requested that we issue a
decision as to whether claimant can be paid the amount of the allowances authorized in his
travel orders for moving his mobile home, or whether reimbursement should be limited to
the mileage allowance as determined by DFAS.

                           Discussion
                                
     Statute provides that a federal employee who otherwise would be entitled to
transportation of household goods (HHG) and personal effects is entitled instead of that
transportation to a reasonable allowance for transportation of a mobile dwelling (if the
mobile dwelling is transported by the employee) or commercial transportation of the mobile
dwelling at Government expense.  5 U.S.C.  5724(b).  The Federal Travel Regulation
(FTR), sections 302-10.1, -10.403, implements this statute, allowing employees to transport
their mobile homes and to receive reimbursement for various charges incurred in preparing
and resettling their mobile homes in lieu of transportation of HHG.  41 CFR 302-10.1,
-10.403 (2005); see, e.g., Judy T. Barnette, GSBCA 14612-RELO, 98-2 BCA  30,098;
Charles A. Miller, GSBCA 13679-RELO, 97-1 BCA  28,865. An employee can be paid
for the costs of moving the mobile home or the costs of shipping his HHG, but not both. 
Julia W. Saunders, GSBCA 15047-RELO, 00-1 BCA  30,646 (1999).

     Similarly, the JTR state in relevant part that an employee authorized HHG
transportation at government expense may be authorized mobile home transportation
allowances in lieu of HHG transportation when the mobile home is acquired on or before
the effective date of the PCS travel authorization and the employee certifies that the
employee and any dependents intend to use the mobile home as a primary residence at the
location to which it is moved.  JTR C5255.  Additionally, the maximum reimbursement for
mobile home transportation is the transportation cost of the employee's PCS HHG weight
allowance (up to 18,000 pounds) plus ninety days of HHG storage in transit (SIT) between
the authorized points.  The actual allowance is determined by the actual weight and distance,
plus the actual costs of  packing, pickup, line-haul or drayage, delivery, and unpacking.  JTR
C5265, C5285; Dale G. Luckman, Jr., GSBCA 14874-RELO, 99-2 BCA  30,431.  If the
employee tows the mobile home by POV, the employee is reimbursed $.11 per mile to cover
transportation costs listed in JTR C5275C.  JTR C5280A. Costs characterized as
transportation preparation and resettling costs are also reimbursable.  JTR C5280B; Judy T.
Barnette. 

     Claimant's travel orders authorized reimbursement of mobile home transportation
allowances in lieu of transportation for HHG.  Claimant towed his mobile home from his old
duty station to his new duty station by POV.  He asserts that he expected to receive "about
$7,664 for packing and unpacking my HHG, $9,700 for the transport of the mobile home,
$4,812.00 for storage of all items, and $207.00 for the additional mileage" and that he was
advised by travel officials that he would receive the full amount authorized.  However,
according to DFAS, the amounts authorized in claimant's travel orders are maximum
reimbursement limits.  Since claimant did not submit a request for reimbursement in these
amounts or any indication that he incurred these costs, DFAS determined that claimant was
only due reimbursement for $.11 per mile for transportation costs.
     
                            Decision
                                
     Based upon the present record in this case, DFAS's determination is correct.  While
claimant is entitled to reimbursement for authorized allowances for moving his mobile home
in lieu of shipping his HHG, he must submit a voucher detailing costs actually incurred
before payment is authorized.  If claimant has additional amounts which he can document,
he should submit a voucher to the agency and seek reimbursement for these amounts.
                                                       



                                   __________________________________
                                   ALLAN H. GOODMAN
                                   Board Judge