[AVSCOM Employee's Claim for Dinner Cancellation Fee]

An Army Aviation Systems Command (AVSCOM) employee appealed a claim settlement which disallowed reimbursement of a fee charged him as the result of the cancellation of an agency-sponsored dinner. GAO held that: (1) the dinner reservation and the use of contingency funds were approved in advance; (2) the catering agreement was executed by an authorized representative of AVSCOM; and (3) the fact that the employee's credit card was used in lieu of a cash deposit did not relieve AVSCOM from its responsibility under the catering agreement. Accordingly, AVSCOM should reimburse the employee if the charge assessed against him was consistent with the terms of the catering agreement.