Third-Party Scaling Services under a Timber Sales Contract

The Forest Service requested a decision as to the propriety of the payment of claims for third-party scaling costs incurred under a timber sales contract. The timber sales contract may not be modified to retroactively reimburse the buyer for the third-party scaling costs already incurred after expiration of a contract modification allowing third-party scaling at the buyer's expense, but reimbursement on a quantum meruit basis is allowed.