Claim for Computer Services

The General Services Administration (GSA) requested a decision on whether a firm was entitled to payment of $64,909.56 for computer services rendered to a Presidental Commission. In June or early July 1979, the members of a task force of the Commission met with the firm to discuss its requirements for computer services. Sometime after that meeting, the firm gave the task force an invoice for $6,600. The members of the task force apparently understood this to be the bill for the entire job. However, the firm stated that the invoice was a prebilling for 1 man-month's worth of work and did not represent an estimate for the entire job. In any case, the members of the Commission did not have the authority to enter into a contract and no written contract was ever signed. The firm and the task force were in disagreement regarding the usefulness of the work performed by the firm. The task force contended that the work was untrustworthy, totally useless and, therefore, had to be done again by hand. The firm asserted, however, that it completed the job it was hired for and that the materials were used by the task force. The only evidence the firm offered to indicate that the task force used the material was that it continually insisted that the firm produce the work product until the end of the project. The apparent reason for the task forece taking such a posture is that it was hoping to salvage some of the work of the firm. The task force stated that it was unable to do so. In view of the fact that the firm did not produce a product that was a benefit to the Government, it was not entitled to quantum meruit recovery. The claim was denied.