VA Acquisition Regulation: Construction and Architect-Engineer Contracts

This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR). This document updates position titles, makes minor grammatical corrections and revisions, revises and updates section numbers and titles, relocates material to correspond to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and delegates authority. In addition, the document updates regulations and adds coverage regarding the authority of the National Cemetery Administration to award architect-engineer contracts. Also, it replaces a general prescription directing the use of all VAAR clauses relating to construction contracts with specific prescriptions for each clause, removes obsolete or duplicative material, updates the VAAR regarding the requirement for certificates of current cost or pricing data, and provides agency procedures regarding disclosure of the Government cost estimate on construction contracts. This document also removes a "guaranty" clause from the VAAR and provides agency procedures for VA contracting officers to use the FAR "warranty" clause for construction contracts exceeding the micro-purchase threshold in order to protect the best interests of the Government. In addition, this document revises provisions regarding the acceptance of foreign construction materials to correspond to changes made in the FAR and to comply with the Trade Agreements Act and the North American Free Trade Agreement.