Claim for Storage Charges of Government Automobile

A Government Finance Officer asked whether a Government employee may be paid for storing a Government vehicle in his driveway for 5 months. The damaged vehicle was towed to the employee's home to be held there until arrangements could be made to sell it because no Government-owned space was available. It was held that the bill may be paid on a quantum meruit basis as a benefit accepted by the Government, provided that the certifying officer finds that the local administrator had proper contracting authority to obligate the Government to pay for storage of the vehicle or, if the local administrator lacked such authority, that his action was ratified by a proper contracting official.