[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] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
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