[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 137 (Monday, July 19, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38592-38593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18157]


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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: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule amends 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, can, under supervision of a Federal

[[Page 38593]]

agency, 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 are deleting 
the provisions concerning tax-free tobacco products. Further, this 
document removes 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 removes 
provisions stating that the VAAR contains refund procedures for State 
and local taxes, since the VAAR does not contain such provisions.

DATES: Effective Date: August 18, 1999.

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: On January 29, 1999, we published in the 
Federal Register (64 FR 4607) a proposal to amend the Department of 
Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR). We solicited comments 
concerning the proposal for 60 days, ending March 30, 1999. We did not 
receive any comments. Based on the rationale set forth in the proposed 
rule document and this document, we are adopting the provisions of the 
proposed rule as a final rule with no changes. The actions taken by 
this document are described in the SUMMARY portion of this document.
    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 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, 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 Secs. 603 and 604.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR part 829

    Government procurement, Taxes.

    Approved: June 30, 1999.
Togo D. West, Jr.,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 48 CFR part 829 is 
amended as follows:

PART 829--TAXES

    1. The authority citation for part 829 is revised 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 829.101 is removed.


829.270 through 829.270-2  [Removed]

    4. Sections 829.270 through 829.270-2 are removed.
[FR Doc. 99-18157 Filed 7-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P