International Development

On December 30, 2015, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued a Final Rule intended to clarify that U.S. defense contractors and subcontractors performing work in Afghanistan, including work on contracts below the simplified acquisition threshold and for commercial items, are not subject to Afghan taxes.[1]  The rule updates the tax provisions of the DFARS

On June 26, 2015, the United States Agency for International Development (“USAID”) published a final rule extending its pilot Partner Vetting System (“PVS”) program to assistance awards and cooperative agreements.  This final rule comes nearly two years after USAID issued a proposed rule applying PVS to USAID assistance and resembles USAID’s existing vetting program for its procurement contracts.  The final rule goes into effect on July 27, 2015.

PVS is intended to prevent USAID funds and resources from inadvertently benefitting terrorists and their supporters or affiliates.  In pursuit of that goal, applicants for USAID assistance subject to PVS must submit identifying information about their key individuals, which an independent vetting official then checks against government databases to determine potential affiliations with or links to terrorism.  Any applicant that does not pass the vetting process is deemed ineligible for award.Continue Reading USAID Publishes Final Rule Extending Partner Vetting to Assistance Awards