[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 19 (Friday, January 29, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 4607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2126]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

48 CFR Part 829

RIN 2900-AJ32


VA Acquisition Regulation: Taxes

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule proposes to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs 
Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) by deleting procedures and controls 
prescribed in the VAAR whereby facilities or institutions owned or 
controlled by State Governments, territories, and the District of 
Columbia, under supervision of a Federal agency, can obtain tax-free 
tobacco products for gratuitous distribution to present and former 
members of the Armed Forces of the United States. These procedures and 
controls are inconsistent with VA policy against promotion of the use 
of tobacco products. Accordingly, we propose to delete the provisions 
concerning tax-free tobacco products. Further, this document proposes 
to remove provisions stating that contracting officers will submit 
requests for legal advice, through channels, to the General Counsel. 
These provisions are internal VA instructions to contracting officers 
and are not required to be published in the Federal Register or the 
Code of Federal Regulations. In addition, this document proposes to 
remove provisions stating that the VAAR contains refund procedures for 
State and local taxes, since the VAAR does not contain such provisions.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 30, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand-deliver written comments to: Director, Office 
of Regulations Management (02D), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 
Vermont Ave., NW, Room 1154, Washington, DC 20420. Comments should 
indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900-AJ32.'' All 
written comments will be available for public inspection in the Office 
of Regulations Management, Room 1158, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Kaliher, Acquisition Policy Team 
(95A), Office of Acquisition and Materiel Management, Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20420, telephone 
number (202) 273-8819.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary hereby certifies that this 
rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities as they are defined in the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601-612. This rule would have a 
minuscule effect, if any, on small businesses. Therefore, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 605(b), this rule is exempt from the initial and final 
regulatory flexibility analysis requirements of sections 603 and 604.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 829

    Government procurement, Taxes.

    Approved: January 22, 1999.
Togo D. West, Jr.,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 48 CFR parts 829 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 829--TAXES

    1. The authority citation for part 829 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501 and 40 U.S.C. 486(c).

    2. Section 829.000 is revised to read as follows:


829.000  Scope of part.

    This part prescribes policies and procedures for exemptions from 
Federal excise taxes imposed on alcohol products purchased for use in 
the Department of Veterans Affairs medical care program.

Subpart 829.1--[Removed]

    3. Subpart 829.1 consisting of section 829.101 is removed.


829.270 through 829-270-2  [Removed]

    4. Sections 829.270 through 829.270-2 are removed.

[FR Doc. 99-2126 Filed 1-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-U