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Office of Acquisition & Materiel Management

Policies and Regulations - Information Letter 90-98-5

90-98-5 Use of Appropriations to Purchase Employee Business Cards

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Department of Veterans Affairs
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Materiel Management
Washington DC 20420



IL 90-98-5
June 10, 1998

Office of Acquisition and Materiel Management Information Letter

TO: Administration Heads; Assistant Secretaries; Veterans Integrated Service Network Directors; Directors, VA Medical Center Activities, Domiciliary, Outpatient Clinics, Medical and Regional Office Centers, and Regional Offices; Directors, Austin Automation Center, Records Management Center, VBA Benefits Delivery Centers, and CHAMPVA Center; Director National Cemetery System
ATTN: Head of the Contracting Activity
SUBJECT: Use of Appropriations to Purchase Employee Business Cards
  1. On March 20, 1998, the Office of General Counsel issued a memorandum on the subject "Purchase of Business Cards at Government Expense."   This memorandum clarifies the U.S. Department of Justic opinion dated August 11, 1997, authorizing executive agencies to use appropriations to purchase employee business cards.   The authority is limited to the purchase of cards that enhance an employee's ability to conduct agency business with outside organizations which will further the statutory mission of the agency.   Additionally, the distribution of the business cards would facilitate prompt and efficient communications between the agency and those persons and organizations with which it transacts business.
  2. This Information Letter is provided as an interim authority to activity heads to allow the purchase of business cards required by employees under the guidelines provided above.   This policy will be reflected as a change to MP1, Part II, Chapter 9, that is currently being rewritten in the format of a directive and handbook.
  3. Questions concerning this information letter may be addressed to Ralph L. Taylor, Chief, Publications Staff, at (202) 565-6518.



/s/Charles E. Roberson
for Gary J. Krump

Distribution:   RPC 7029