Reconsideration of Claim for Carpet-Cleaning Services

Protester requested reconsideration of a claim for payment on a quantum meruit or quantum valebant basis where a contracting officer authorized the issuance of purchase orders under a contract which was not previously authorized. Payment for downtime of a cleaning crew was disallowed due to the conflicting statements of the protester and the administrative agency. Where goods or services are furnished to the Government without prior authorization, payment may be made on a price worth value basis provided the Government received a benefit and there was an explicit or implicit ratification by authorized Government contracting officials. While the Government received the benefit of antistatic treatments, the contracting officer authorized to issue purchase orders did not ratify the performance. Therefore, the claim was denied.