Narrative:

The B737 was eastbound at FL370. The cpr was issued a direct route swbound at FL350. The B737 needed to be at FL330 for the receiving sector, per local directives. I intended to descend the B737 as soon as the aircraft entered my airspace, to get below the aircraft at FL350. There were other sits which also required timely descent clrncs. I was distraction by tmu to fix/rerte aircraft which had previously been cleared on a direct route from previous en route center sector. While engaging in issuing the clearance and the readback and the disgruntled pilot's remarks, precious time was lost. Approximately 1 1/2 mins were spent. I issued the descent clearance to FL330 to the B737. I went and gave a couple other clrncs. Then I realized the conflict and issued vectors to both aircraft, and told the B737 to expedite descent to FL330. Separation was lost at 3.5 mi and 700 ft. I should have issued 'expedite' with the initial descent clearance. Better yet, I should have issued descent before I got involved with tmu rerte. The B737 responded to a TCASII RA and climbed to FL358 before it was clear of TCASII RA, then took the descent to FL330.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC CTLR, DISTR BY TMU CTLR, ALLOWS DSNDING B733 TO CONFLICT WITH ENRTE FA20.

Narrative: THE B737 WAS EBOUND AT FL370. THE CPR WAS ISSUED A DIRECT RTE SWBOUND AT FL350. THE B737 NEEDED TO BE AT FL330 FOR THE RECEIVING SECTOR, PER LCL DIRECTIVES. I INTENDED TO DSND THE B737 AS SOON AS THE ACFT ENTERED MY AIRSPACE, TO GET BELOW THE ACFT AT FL350. THERE WERE OTHER SITS WHICH ALSO REQUIRED TIMELY DSCNT CLRNCS. I WAS DISTR BY TMU TO FIX/RERTE ACFT WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CLRED ON A DIRECT RTE FROM PREVIOUS ENRTE CTR SECTOR. WHILE ENGAGING IN ISSUING THE CLRNC AND THE READBACK AND THE DISGRUNTLED PLT'S REMARKS, PRECIOUS TIME WAS LOST. APPROX 1 1/2 MINS WERE SPENT. I ISSUED THE DSCNT CLRNC TO FL330 TO THE B737. I WENT AND GAVE A COUPLE OTHER CLRNCS. THEN I REALIZED THE CONFLICT AND ISSUED VECTORS TO BOTH ACFT, AND TOLD THE B737 TO EXPEDITE DSCNT TO FL330. SEPARATION WAS LOST AT 3.5 MI AND 700 FT. I SHOULD HAVE ISSUED 'EXPEDITE' WITH THE INITIAL DSCNT CLRNC. BETTER YET, I SHOULD HAVE ISSUED DSCNT BEFORE I GOT INVOLVED WITH TMU RERTE. THE B737 RESPONDED TO A TCASII RA AND CLBED TO FL358 BEFORE IT WAS CLR OF TCASII RA, THEN TOOK THE DSCNT TO FL330.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.