[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 18, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23204-23208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9269]
[[Page 23204]]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
48 CFR Parts 832 and 852
RIN 2900-AN97
VA Acquisition Regulation: Electronic Submission of Payment
Requests
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its
acquisition regulations to require contractors to submit payment
requests in electronic form in order to enhance customer service,
departmental productivity, and adoption of innovative information
technology, including the appropriate use of commercial best practices.
DATES: Comments must be received by VA on or before June 18, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted through
www.Regulations.gov; by mail or hand-delivery to Director, Regulations
Management (02REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave.
NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; or by fax to (202) 273-9026.
Comments should indicate they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900-
AN97--VA Acquisition Regulation: Electronic Submission of Payment
Requests.'' Copies of comments received will be available for public
inspection in the Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Room
1063B, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
(except holidays). Please call (202) 461-4902 for an appointment. (This
is not a toll free number.) In addition, during the comment period,
comments are available online through the Federal Docket Management
System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tanya Reid, Procurement Policy Service
(003A2A), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20420, (202) 461-7178. (This is not a toll free number.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 7, 2009, VA published a notice, in
the Federal Register at 74 FR 32223, of a class deviation to Federal
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 32.905 (48 CFR 32.905), which added an
interim electronic invoicing clause in the VA Acquisition Regulation
(VAAR). The interim clause strongly encourages contractors to
voluntarily submit invoices electronically, which VA determined would
improve the accuracy and efficiency of payment processing. Under this
interim clause, contractors who choose to use electronic invoicing have
three options to submit payment requests in electronic form: (1)
Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment System; (2) American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) X12 electronic data interchange
(EDI) formats; or (3) another electronic form as prescribed by the
contract administration office and the designated agency office. VA's
notice regarding interim, optional electronic invoicing noted VA
intended to initiate notice-and-comment rulemaking to amend the VAAR to
make electronic invoicing mandatory.
Mandatory electronic invoice submission is necessary to enhance
compliance and/or consistency with a long history of rules and
regulations governing the accuracy, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness
of the Federal Government's payment process.
In 1982, Congress enacted the Prompt Payment Act (``Act''), Public
Law 97-177, to require Federal agencies to pay their bills on a timely
basis, to pay interest penalties when payments are made late, and to
take discounts only when payments are made by the discount date. The
Act, as amended, is found at 31 U.S.C. Chapter 39. To implement the
Act, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued Circular A-125
(``Prompt Payment '') in August 1982 (47 FR 37321). In response to
changes to the Act that Congress made in the Prompt Payment Act
Amendments of 1988, Public Law 100-496, OMB revised Circular A-125 in
December 1989 (54 FR 52700). On June 17, 1998, OMB requested public
comments on proposed revisions to Circular A-125 (63 FR 33000). The
Circular was updated to reflect the increased use of electronic
commerce in the Federal Government and in the private sector, including
electronic financial systems and electronic funds transfer. OMB
responded to the comments that were received on the proposed revisions,
issued final revisions to its Prompt Payment Circular, and codified
these revisions in new part 1315 of 5 CFR (64 FR 52580). With the
incorporation of the Prompt Payment rules into 5 CFR part 1315, OMB
rescinded Circular A-125.
The prompt payment rules at 5 CFR part 1315 address the increased
use of electronic commercial financial systems and promote the use of
government credit cards and accelerated payment methods. This proposed
rule enhances compliance with 5 CFR part 1315 by requiring the use of
electronic commerce. Electronic invoice submission replaces payment
delays from traditional postal delivery with immediate electronic
transmission of data. As a result, VA's ability to make timely
payments, reduce interest penalties on late payments, and increase the
dollar amount of discounts realized from prompt payment is improved.
FAR subpart 32.9 (48 CFR part 32.9) prescribes policies,
procedures, and clauses for implementing the prompt payment regulations
at 5 CFR part 1315. In relevant part, FAR 32.903 requires federal
agencies to establish policies and procedures necessary to implement
FAR subpart 32.9, and provides the agencies the latitude to prescribe
additional standards for establishing invoice payment due dates
necessary to support agency programs and foster prompt payment to
contractors as well as the latitude to adopt different payment
procedures in order to accommodate unique circumstances, provided that
such procedures are consistent with the policies in OMB's prompt
payment regulations. This proposed rule enhances compliance with FAR
32.903 by requiring electronic invoice submission. Electronic invoice
submission replaces payment delays from traditional postal delivery
with immediate electronic transmission of data. By eliminating delays
associated with traditional processing, electronic submission fosters
the prompt payment of invoices to contractors.
FAR 32.905(b)(1) defines the specific data elements that must be
included on a proper invoice. Electronic invoice submission ensures
invoice validity by employing automated data validation. Automated data
validation enforces data element accuracy and completeness. Invalid
invoices are immediately returned to the contractor for correction
without the delays associated with traditional postal delivery.
VA's proposed requirement for contractors to use electronic
invoicing when submitting payment requests supports several of the
principal purposes stated in section 2 of the E-Government Act of 2002,
Public Law 107-347, including promoting the use of the Internet and
other information technologies to provide increased opportunities for
citizen participation in Government, improving the ability of the
Government to achieve agency missions and program performance goals,
reducing costs and burdens for businesses and other Government
entities, and transforming agency operations by utilizing, where
appropriate, best practices from public and private sector
organizations. Further, section 202(b)(3) of the E-Government Act of
2002 requires Federal agencies to develop performance measures that
demonstrate
[[Page 23205]]
how electronic government enables progress towards agency objectives,
strategic goals, and statutory mandates, and specifically directs
agencies to consider: (1) Customer service; (2) agency productivity;
and (3) the adoption of innovative information technology, including
the appropriate use of commercial best practices. VA anticipates that
this rulemaking requiring contractors to use electronic invoicing to
submit payment requests would reflect positively when rated against the
aforementioned performance measures given that it would ensure superior
customer service, increase agency productivity, and be consistent with
the longstanding best practice of electronic invoicing and direct
deposit in the commercial marketplace.
The Improper Payments Information Act of 2002, Public Law 107-300,
enacted on Nov. 26, 2002, as amended by the Improper Payments
Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010 (IPERA), Public Law 111-204,
enacted on July 22, 2010, requires Federal agencies to annually review
the programs it oversees and determine if those programs and activities
may be susceptible to significant erroneous payments. Section 2(h)(4)
of IPERA requires the head of each agency to conduct a financial
management improvement program, consistent with rules prescribed by the
Director of OMB. In conducting the program, the head of the agency
shall, as the first priority of the program, address problems that
contribute directly to agency improper payments and may seek to reduce
errors and waste in other agency programs and operations.
Executive Order 13520 of November 20, 2009 (``Reducing Improper
Payments'') directed the Federal Government to make every effort to
confirm that the right recipient is receiving the right payment for the
right reason at the right time. This proposed rule would address
problems that contribute to improper payments such as data entry
errors, manual processing errors, incorrect vendor selection, duplicate
payments, and payment delays while eliminating the waste associated
with traditional payment processing.
Other Federal Government departments and agencies have implemented
similar electronic invoice submission requirements. In January 2004,
the Department of Defense updated the Defense Federal Acquisition
Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to reflect the new electronic invoicing
mandate. DFARS 252.232-7003 (48 CFR 252.232-7003) outlines the
electronic invoice submission process for contractor payments. In 2006,
the U.S. Government Accountability Office issued a report to
Congressional Committees entitled ``DoD Payments to Small Businesses:
Implementation and Effective Utilization of Electronic Invoicing Could
Further Reduce Late Payments'' (GAO-06-358). The report confirmed the
effectiveness of electronic invoicing in eliminating paper and
redundant data entry; improving data accuracy; reducing the number of
lost or misplaced documents; and ultimately, improving timely payments
to contractors.
The U.S. Department of the Interior issued a special notice
mandating electronic submittal of invoices and exchange of payment
information to its suppliers of goods and services beginning in May
2011. The U.S. Department of the Treasury mandated electronic invoicing
for its commercial vendors by the end of fiscal year 2012.
VA proposes to amend the VAAR by adding subpart 832.10 and clause
852.273-76 to implement mandatory electronic invoicing as part of its
strategic plan to improve the commercial vendor payment process. The
automated data validation, digital transmission, and expedited payment
and processing would reduce the errors inherent in a manual invoice
processing system, thereby reducing improper payments. Expedited
payment processes would allow VA to take advantage of prompt payment
discounts offered by its vendors thereby reducing the cost of goods and
services furnished VA while simultaneously reducing the cost to
contractors of manual invoice processing. As a result, VA would achieve
compliance and consistency with all applicable laws governing the
invoice payment process and use of information technologies.
This proposed amendment to the VAAR is anticipated to reduce the
errors in the processing of contractor payments by including automated
invoice data validation checks. VA's electronic invoicing system would
check the contractor-submitted invoice data against contract invoice
requirements and automatically refer improper or erroneous invoices
back to the contractor for immediate correction. This would facilitate
timely correction of administrative errors and timely payment of
contractors when coupled with the existing Electronic Funds Transfer
procedure (bank direct deposit) in use by VA. Automated invoice data
validation checks would reduce the manual processing burden and
consequent errors for both government and contractor personnel and
reduce the risk of improper payment. These same data validation
processes would ensure payment requests comply with applicable laws. In
addition, electronic invoicing would expedite the payment process, and
thereby, permit VA to take greater advantage of discounts afforded by
contractors for early payment. The proposed benefits of electronic
invoice submission to the contractor community would include speedier
payments of balances due, as well as reduced costs due to the
elimination of postage fees, and related material and supply expenses.
Currently, approximately 25 percent of the vendor community submits
electronic payment requests to the VA Financial Services Center using
one of two data transmission methods. Some contractors use VA's
Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment System. Other contractors
use systems that rely on the standard EDI transaction sets. These
methods of data transmission are discussed in more detail below.
Under proposed VAAR 832.1003-1 and VAAR 852.273-76(c), electronic
invoices would be submitted by the Internet using either: (1) VA's
Electronic Invoice Presentation and Payment System, or (2) any system
that conforms to the X12 EDI formats established by the Accredited
Standards Center (ASC) and chartered by ANSI. These are the same
methods that many VA contractors are voluntarily using under VA's
current interim electronic invoicing clause. See 74 FR 32223. VA's
Electronic Invoice Presentation and Payment System allows invoice
submission through two methods. The first method is an internet-based
webform template that expands the ability of smaller contractors to
utilize electronic invoicing and allows a contractor to directly upload
invoice data that automatically populates VA payment systems. The
second method directly interfaces with the contractor's billing system
and transmits invoice data to VA payment systems. The U.S. ANSI X12 is
the predominant set of standards defining the structure, format, and
content of business transactions conducted through EDI. ANSI X12,
chartered more than 30 years ago, develops and maintains EDI standards.
Access to VA's Electronic Invoice Presentation and Payment System would
be provided to contractors at no cost.
As an alternative to using the VA Electronic Invoice Presentation
and Payment System, proposed VAAR 832.1003-1(b) and VAAR 852.273-
76(c)(2) would also permit contractors to submit electronic invoices
using any system that conforms to X12 EDI
[[Page 23206]]
formats established by ASC and chartered by ANSI. This would allow
contractors some flexibility in deciding how they want to communicate
with VA. For example, some contractors may already have a system
established that is compatible with above-mentioned EDI requirements in
order to communicate with other federal agencies. Those contractors
would be able to use that same system to submit electronic invoices to
VA. Additionally, purchases paid with a Government-wide commercial
purchase card are considered to be an electronic transaction for
purposes of this rule, and therefore no additional electronic invoice
submission is required.
In proposed VAAR 832.1003(b) and VAAR 852.273-76(e), VA proposes to
include five exceptions to the mandatory use of electronic invoicing by
contractors. VA proposes to allow contracting officers to require
contractors to submit payment requests by mail, through the United
States Postal Service, in the following circumstances. First,
contracting officers may direct that contractors submit invoicing by
mail for awards that are made to foreign vendors for work performed
outside the United States because foreign vendors may lack Internet
access, familiarity with, or ability to process an electronic invoice
with the standard commercial protocols and methods in the proposed
clause. Second, contracting officers may direct that contractors submit
invoicing by mail for classified contracts or purchases when electronic
submission and processing of payment requests could compromise the
safeguarding of classified or privacy information. In such cases, the
potential damage far outweighs any efficiencies or benefits to be
gained by electronic processing. Third, contracting officers may direct
that contractors submit invoicing by mail for contracts awarded by
contracting officers in the conduct of emergency operations, such as
responses to national emergencies because such contracts may be
performed in areas and under circumstances where Internet availability
and electronic invoicing are not practical. Fourth, contracting
officers may direct that contractors submit invoicing by mail for
contracts awarded by contracting officers for solicitations or
contracts in which the designated agency office (DAO) is a VA entity
other than the VA Financial Services Center in Austin, Texas. Fifth,
contracting officers may direct that contractors submit invoicing by
mail for solicitations or contracts awarded by contracting officers in
cases where the DAO does not have electronic invoicing capability as
described above.
Proposed VAAR 832.1003-2 would require a contracting officer to
insert the proposed contract clause, VAAR 852.273-76, Electronic
Submission of Payment Requests, in all solicitations and contracts. The
proposed VAAR 852.273-76 would require the electronic submission of
invoices for contracts unless the contracting officer determines that
one or more of the exceptions at VAAR 832.1003(b) applies. In cases
where an exception would apply, the contracting officer would provide
invoice mailing instructions to the contractor. The VA Financial
Services Center would serve as the DAO for commercial goods and
services purchased by VA, and would be the only entity which operates
the electronic invoicing capabilities as described above. Accordingly,
VAAR 832.1003(b)(4) allows an exception to the electronic invoice
requirement for solicitations or contracts in which the DAO is a VA
entity other than the VA Financial Services Center in Austin, Texas.
Public Comments
VA welcomes public comments on all aspects of the proposed rule,
however, the Department is specifically interested in feedback on the
following areas: (1) While VA's voluntary compliance program has been
in effect for 3 years, the VA is soliciting comment on whether a final
rule should include an appropriate phase-in period for electronic
reporting requirements; (2) The Department is seeking input on whether
the proposal would create any significant burdens or transition costs
for contractors; if so what types of costs or burdens might be
imposed?; (3) While VA generally believes that the rapid pace of
technological change has eliminated many challenges to full electronic
commerce and internet access for contractors e.g. both current and
potential federal government registrants are already required to
register in the Centralized Contractor Registry (CCR), the VA is
interested in comments on whether an exemption process should be
included in the final rule; and, (4) Finally, VA is seeking comment on
whether the elimination of the ``other electronic means'' option
previously available under VA's voluntary program would create any
undue burdens for contractors.
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, when
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public
health and safety effects, and other advantages; distributive impacts;
and equity). Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory
Review) emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and
benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and promoting flexibility.
Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) defines a
``significant regulatory action,'' which requires review by OMB, as
``any regulatory action that is likely to result in a rule that may:
(1) Have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or
adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the
economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public
health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or
communities; (2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere
with an action taken or planned by another agency; (3) Materially alter
the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan
programs or the rights and obligations of recipients thereof; or (4)
Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the
President's priorities, or the principles set forth in this Executive
Order.''
The economic, interagency, budgetary, legal, and policy
implications of this regulatory action have been examined and it has
been determined not to be a significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Secretary hereby certifies that this proposed rule would not
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C.
601-612. The Secretary acknowledges that this proposed rule could
affect some small entities; however, the economic impact is not
anticipated to be significant and is expected to be outweighed by the
positive economic impact of the proposed rule. Small entities should
realize a positive economic impact as a result of electronic invoice
submission due to the avoidance of traditional invoicing costs such as
postage and mailing supplies. VA's proposed data transmission methods
for electronic invoice submission would accommodate all existing
accounts receivable/billing systems that contractors are currently
using to submit electronic invoices to VA. As a result,
[[Page 23207]]
no additional hardware or software purchases by contractors are
necessary to submit electronic invoices. Additionally, the VA
electronic invoice payment and presentment system is provided to all
contractors free of charge. No negative economic impact has been
reported by small entities voluntarily using electronic invoice
submission in accordance with the existing interim electronic invoicing
clause in the VAAR. In 2006, the U.S. Government Accountability Office
issued a report to Congressional Committees entitled ``DoD Payments to
Small Businesses: Implementation and Effective Utilization of
Electronic Invoicing Could Further Reduce Late Payments'' (GAO-06-358).
The report confirmed the effectiveness of electronic invoicing in
eliminating paper and redundant data entry; improving data accuracy;
reducing the number of lost or misplaced documents; and ultimately,
improving timely payments to small businesses. Therefore, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 605(b), this proposed rule is exempt from the initial and final
regulatory flexibility analysis requirements of sections 603 and 604.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This proposed rule does not impose any additional information
collection requirements requiring approval of OMB under the Paperwork
Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq. Collections of information
referenced in VAAR Parts 832 and 852 have previously been approved in
accordance with OMB prompt payment regulations at 5 CFR Part 1315. See
64 FR 52580-01. Collections relating to the submission and payment of
invoices are approved under OMB Control Numbers 9000-0070 and 0102,
which govern the submission of adequate documentation to support
contractor requests for payment.
Unfunded Mandates
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act requires, at 2 U.S.C. 1532, that
agencies prepare an assessment of anticipated costs and benefits before
issuing any rule that may result in an expenditure by State, local, and
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100
million or more (adjusted annually for inflation) in any one year. This
proposed rule would have no such effect on State, local, and tribal
governments, or on the private sector.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program
There is no Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance program number
and title for the program in this proposal.
Signing Authority
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. John R.
Gingrich, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this
document on February 24, 2012, for publication.
List of Subjects
48 CFR Part 832
Government procurement.
48 CFR Part 852
Government procurement; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: April 12, 2012.
Robert C. McFetridge,
Director of Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Department of
Veterans Affairs proposes to amend 48 CFR chapter 8 as follows:
CHAPTER 8--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Subchapter E--General Contracting Requirements
PART 832--CONTRACT FINANCING
1. The authority citation for part 832 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 40 U.S.C. 121(c) and 48 CFR 1.301-1.304.
2. Add subpart 832.10 to read as follows:
Subpart 832.10--Electronic Invoicing Requirements
832.1001 General.
832.1002 Definitions.
832.1003 Electronic Payment Requests.
832.1003-1 Data Transmission.
832.1003-2 Contract Clause.
Subpart 832.10--Electronic Invoicing Requirements
832.1001 General.
This subpart prescribes requirements and procedures for submitting
and processing payment requests in electronic form.
832.1002 Definitions.
As used in this subpart:
(a) Contract financing payment has the meaning given in FAR 32.001.
(b) Designated agency office has the meaning given in 5 CFR
1315.2(m).
(c) Electronic form means an automated system transmitting
information electronically according to the accepted electronic data
transmission methods identified in VAAR 832.1003-1. Facsimile, email,
and scanned documents are not acceptable electronic forms for
submission of payment requests.
(d) Invoice payment has the meaning given in FAR 32.001.
(e) Payment request means any request for contract financing
payment or invoice payment submitted by a contractor under a contract.
832.1003 Electronic Payment Requests.
(a) The contractor shall submit payment requests in electronic form
unless directed by the contracting officer to submit payment requests
by mail. Purchases paid with a Government-wide commercial purchase card
are considered to be an electronic transaction for purposes of this
rule, and therefore no additional electronic invoice submission is
required.
(b) The contracting officer may direct the contractor to submit
payment requests by mail, through the United States Postal Service, to
the designated agency office for:
(1) Awards made to foreign vendors for work performed outside the
United States;
(2) Classified contracts or purchases when electronic submission
and processing of payment requests could compromise the safeguarding of
classified or privacy information;
(3) Contracts awarded by contracting officers in the conduct of
emergency operations, such as responses to national emergencies;
(4) Solicitations or contracts in which the designated agency
office is a VA entity other than the VA Financial Services Center in
Austin, Texas; or
(5) Solicitations or contracts in which the VA designated agency
office does not have electronic invoicing capability as described
above.
832.1003-1 Data Transmission.
The contractor shall submit electronic payment requests through:
(a) VA's Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment System (See Web
site at http://www.fsc.va.gov/einvoice.asp.); or,
(b) A system that conforms to the X12 electronic data interchange
(EDI) formats established by the Accredited Standards Center (ASC)
chartered by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The X12
EDI Web site (http://www.x12.org) includes additional information on
EDI 810 and 811 formats.
[[Page 23208]]
832.1003-2 Contract Clause.
The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 852.273-76,
Electronic Submission of Payment Requests, in all solicitations and
contracts.
Subchapter H--Clauses and Forms
PART 852--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES
3. The authority citation for part 852 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, 8127, 8128, and 8151-8153; 40 U.S.C.
121(c) and 48 CFR 1.301-1.304.
Subpart 852.2--Texts of Provisions and Clauses
4. Add 852.273-76 to subpart 852.2 to read as follows:
852.273-76 Electronic Submission of Payment Requests.
As prescribed in 832.1003-2, insert the following clause:
Electronic Submission of Payment Requests (XXX 2012)
(a) Definitions. As used in this clause--
(1) Contract financing payment has the meaning given in FAR
32.001.
(2) Designated agency office has the meaning given in 5 CFR
1315.2(m).
(3) Electronic form means an automated system transmitting
information electronically according to the accepted electronic data
transmission methods and formats identified in paragraph (c) of this
clause. Facsimile, email, and scanned documents are not acceptable
electronic forms for submission of payment requests.
(4) Invoice payment has the meaning given in FAR 32.001.
(5) Payment request means any request for contract financing
payment or invoice payment submitted by the contractor under this
contract.
(b) Electronic Payment Requests. Except as provided in paragraph
(e) of this clause, the contractor shall submit payment requests in
electronic form. Purchases paid with a Government-wide commercial
purchase card are considered to be an electronic transaction for
purposes of this rule, and therefore no additional electronic
invoice submission is required.
(c) Data Transmission. A contractor must ensure that the data
transmission method and format are through one of the following:
(1) VA's Electronic Invoice Presentment and Payment System. (See
Web site at http://www.fsc.va.gov/einvoice.asp.)
(2) Any system that conforms to the X12 electronic data
interchange (EDI) formats established by the Accredited Standards
Center (ASC) and chartered by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI). The X12 EDI Web site (http://www.x12.org) includes
additional information on EDI 810 and 811 formats.
(d) Invoice requirements. Invoices shall comply with FAR 32.905.
(e) Exceptions. If, based on one of the circumstances below, the
contracting officer directs that payment requests be made by mail,
the contractor shall submit payment requests by mail through the
United States Postal Service to the designated agency office.
Submission of payment requests by mail may be required for:
(1) Awards made to foreign vendors for work performed outside
the United States;
(2) Classified contracts or purchases when electronic submission
and processing of payment requests could compromise the safeguarding
of classified or privacy information;
(3) Contracts awarded by contracting officers in the conduct of
emergency operations, such as responses to national emergencies;
(4) Solicitations or contracts in which the designated agency
office is a VA entity other than the VA Financial Services Center in
Austin, Texas; or
(5) Solicitations or contracts in which the VA designated agency
office does not have electronic invoicing capability as described
above.
(End of clause)
[FR Doc. 2012-9269 Filed 4-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P