[Army Employee's Claim for Reimbursement for Small Purchase]

The Army requested an advance decision regarding its authority to reimburse a member for expenses she incurred while supervising the remodelling of a lounge. The claimant contended that she: (1) interpreted her supervisors' remarks about needing picture mats as authorization to purchase them; and (2) used her own funds to purchase them so that she could obtain them before a final viewing of the lounge. GAO held that the Army could reimburse the claimant from its imprest fund, if Army regulations allowed such reimbursement. Accordingly, the claim was allowed.