Acquisition regulations: free tobacco products,

[Federal Register: January 29, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 19)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 4607]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr29ja99-30]

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

48 CFR Part 829

RIN 2900-AJ32

VA Acquisition Regulation: Taxes

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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. 99-2126Filed1-28-99; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 8320-01-U