[Forest Service Payment Under Cooperative Agreement for Fire Suppression Services]

The Forest Service requested a decision concerning the effect of a U.S. District Court decision on the Service's payment to a state and billing of the state's fire protection contractor for fire suppression services pursuant to a cooperative agreement. GAO held that the: (1) Service was not required to reopen the settlement on the basis of the subsequent court decision; and (2) certifying officer properly certified the payment based on a joint investigation. Accordingly, the payment was proper.