[Claim for Reimbursement for Personal Expenditures]

A disbursing officer at the Naval Education and Training Center requested an advance decision on whether a voucher could be certified for payment to an Air Force officer who was officially detailed to the Navy. The voucher supported a claim for reimbursement for expenditures from the officer's personal funds to purchase microcomputer software items for use in an ongoing research project. The software items were left behind for the Navy's use when the officer completed the project. GAO held that reimbursement is allowed since, under the circumstances of this case, it would be unfair for the Government to retain benefits without payment. Accordingly, the voucher may be paid.