Federal Property Management

34 C.F.R. Part ..., Subpart C
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

34 C.F.R. § 395.30 The location and operation of vending facilities for blind vendors on Federal property.

(a) Each department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States in control of the maintenance, operation, and protection of Federal property shall take all steps necessary to assure that, wherever feasible, in light of appropriate space and potential patronage, one or more vending facilities for operation by blind licensees shall be located on all Federal property Provided that the location or operation of such facility or facilities would not adversely affect the interests of the United States. Blind persons licensed by State licensing agencies shall be given priority in the operation of vending facilities on any Federal property. (b) Any limitation on the location or operation of a vending facility for blind vendors by a department, agency or instrumentality of the United States based on a finding that such location or operation or type of location or operation would adversely affect the interests of the United States shall be fully justified in writing to the Secretary who shall determine whether such limitation is warranted. A determination made by the Secretary concerning such limitation shall be binding on any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States affected by such determination. The Secretary shall publish such determination in the Federal Register along with supporting documents directly relating to the determination. (c) Priority in the operation of vending facilities in areas administered by the National Park Service or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall be given to blind vendors. Priority in the awarding of contracts for the operation of concessions in such areas when such concessions provide accommodations, facilities, and services of a scope or of a character not generally available in vending facilities operated by blind vendors shall be given in accordance with the provisions of the Concession Policy Act (Pub. L. 98-249, 16 U.S.C. 1) or the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended (Pub. L. 85-568, 42 U.S.C. 2473). The provisions of this part shall not apply when all accommodations, facilities, or services in such areas are operated by a single responsible concessioner.

34 C.F.R. § 395.31 Acquisition and occupation of Federal property.

(a) Effective January 2, 1975, no department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States shall undertake to acquire by ownership, rent, or lease, or to otherwise occupy, in whole or in part, any building unless it is determined that such building includes a satisfactory site or sites for the location and operation of a vending facility by a blind vendor. In those cases where a purchase contract, an agreement to lease, or other similar commitment was entered into prior to January 2, 1975, the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply. (b) Effective January 2, 1975, no department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States, shall undertake to occupy, in whole or in part, any building which is to be constructed, substantially altered, or renovated, or in the case of a building which is occupied on January 2, 1975 by a department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States, no such department, agency, or instrumentality shall undertake to substantially alter or renovate such building, unless it is determined that the design for such construction, substantial alteration, or renovation includes a satisfactory site or sites for the location and operation of a vending facility by a blind vendor. In those cases where a design contract or other similar commitment was entered into prior to January 2, 1975, the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply. For purposes of this paragraph, substantial alteration or renovation of a building means a permanent material change in the floor area of such building which would render such building appropriate for the location and operation of a vending facility by a blind vendor. (c) The determination that a building contains a satisfactory site or sites under paragraph (a) or (b) of this section shall be made after consultation between the State licensing agency and the head of the department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States which is planning to acquire or otherwise occupy such building. In order to make such determination, effective on the publication date of this part each such department, agency, or instrumentality shall provide to the appropriate State licensing agency written notice of its intention to acquire or otherwise occupy such building. Such written notice shall be by certified or registered mail with return receipt and shall be provided as early as practicable but no later than 60 days prior to such intended action. The written notice shall indicate that a satisfactory site or sites for the location and operation of a vending facility by blind persons is included in the plans for the building to be acquired or otherwise occupied and shall further assure that the State licensing agency shall be afforded the opportunity to determine whether such building includes a satisfactory site or sites for a vending facility. The written notice shall further assure that the State licensing agency, subject to the approval of the head of the Federal property managing department, agency, or instrumentality, shall be offered the opportunity to select the location and type of vending facility to be operated by a blind vendor prior to the completion of the final space layout of the building. The receipt of such written notice shall be acknowledged in writing promptly by the State licensing agency but no later than within 30 days and the State licensing agency shall indicate at that time whether it is interested in establishing a vending facility. A copy of the written notice to the State licensing agency and the State licensing agency's acknowledgement shall be provided to the Secretary. (d) When, after a written notice has been provided under paragraph (c) of this section, the State licensing agency determines that the number of persons using the Federal property is or will be insufficient to support a vending facility, and the Secretary concurs with such determination, the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section shall not apply. The provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section shall also not apply when fewer than 100 Federal Government employees are or will be located during normal working hours in the building to be acquired or otherwise occupied or when such building contains less than 15,000 square feet of interior space to be utilized for Federal Government purposes in the case of buildings in which services are to be provided to the public. (e) The operation of a vending facility established under pre-existing arrangements shall not be affected by the provisions of this section. The provisions of this section shall further not preclude future arrangements under which vending facilities to be operated by blind vendors may be established in buildings of a size or with an employee population less than that specified in paragraph (d) of this section: Provided, That both the State licensing agency and the Federal property managing department, agency or instrumentality concur in such establishment. (f) Each department, agency, and instrumentality of the United States, when leasing property in privately owned buildings, shall make every effort to lease property capable of accommodating a vending facility. When, however, such department, agency, or instrumentality is leasing part of a privately owned building in which prior to the execution of the lease, the lessor or any of his tenants had in operation or had entered into a contract for the operation of a restaurant or other food facility in a part of the building not included in such lease and the operation of a vending facility by a blind vendor would be in proximate and substantial direct competition with such restaurant or other food facility, the provisions of paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section shall not apply.

34 C.F.R. § 395.32 Collection and distribution of vending machine income from vending machines on Federal property.

(a) The on-site official responsible for the Federal property of each property managing department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States, in accordance with established procedures of such department, agency, or instrumentality, shall be responsible for the collection of, and accounting for, vending machine income from vending machines on Federal property under his control and shall otherwise ensure compliance with the provisions of this section. (b) Effective January 2, 1975, 100 per centum of all vending machine income from vending machines on Federal property which are in direct competition with a vending facility operated by a blind vendor shall accure to the State licensing agency which shall disburse such income to such blind vendor operating such vending facility on such property provided that the total amount of such income accruing to such blind vendor does not exceed the maximum amount determined under § 395.8(a). In the event that there is income from such vending machines in excess of the maximum amount which may be disbursed to the blind vendor under § 395.8(a), such additional income shall accrue to the State licensing agency for purposes determined in accordance with § 395.8(c). (c) Effective January 2, 1975, 50 per centum of all vending machine income from vending machines on Federal property which are not in direct competition with a vending facility operated by a blind vendor shall accrue to the State licensing agency which shall disburse such income to the blind vendor operating such vending facility on such property. In the event that there is no blind vendor, such income shall accrue to the State licensing agency, except as indicated under paragraph (d) of this section. The total amount of such income disbursed to such blind vendor shall not exceed the maximum amount determined under § 395.8(a). In the event that there is income from such vending machines in excess of the maximum amount which may accrue to the blind vendor under § 395.8(a), such additional income shall accrue to the State licensing agency for purposes determined in accordance with § 395.8(c). (d) Effective January 2, 1975, 30 per centum of all vending machine income from vending machines, which are not in direct competition with a vending facility operated by a blind vendor and which are on Federal property at which at least 50 per centum of the total hours worked on the premises occurs during a period other than normal working hours, shall accrue to the State licensing agency which shall disburse such income to the blind vendor operating a vending facility on such property. In the event that there is no blind vendor on such property, such income shall accrue to the State licensing agency. The total amount of such income disbursed to such blind vendor shall not exceed the maximum amount determined under § 395.8(a). In the event that there is income from such vending machines in excess of the maximum amount which may be disbursed to the blind vendor under § 395.8(a), such additional income shall accrue to the State licensing agency for purposes determined in accordance with § 395.8(c). (e) The determination that a vending machine on Federal property is in direct competition with a vending facility operated by a blind vendor shall be the responsibility of the on-site official responsible for the Federal property of each property managing department, agency or instrumentality of the United States, subject to the concurrence of the State licensing agency. (f) In the case of vending machine income which, prior to the effective date of this part, has been disbursed to a blind vendor by a property managing department, agency, or instrumentality from proceeds which accrued from operations subsequent to January 2, 1975, pursuant to agreements in effect prior to such time, such income may be deducted, at the discretion of such property managing department, agency or instrumentality, from vending machine income due to the State licensing agency under paragraphs (b), (c), or (d) of this section. (g) The collection of vending machine income and its disbursement to the appropriate State licensing agency shall be conducted on at least a quarterly basis. (h) All arrangements pertaining to the operation of vending machines on Federal property not covered by contract with, or by permits issued to, State licensing agencies, shall be renegotiated upon the expiration of the existing contract or other arrangement for consistency with the provisions of this section. (i) The provisions of this section shall not apply to income from vending machines within operated retail sales outlets under the control of post exchange or ships' stores systems authorized under title 10 U.S.C.; to income from vending machines operated by the Veterans Canteen Service; or to income from vending machines not in direct competition with a blind vending facility at individual locations, installations, or facilities on Federal property the total of which at such individual locations, installations, or facilities does not exceed $3,000 annually. (j) The provisions of this section shall not operate to preclude pre-existing or future arrangements, or regulations of departments, agencies, or instrumentalities of the United States, under which blind vendors or State licensing agencies may: (1) Receive a greater percentage or amount of vending machine income than that specified in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section, or (2) Receive vending machine income from individual locations, installations, or facilities on Federal property the total of which at such individual locations, installations, or facilities does not exceed $3,000 annually.

34 C.F.R. § 395.33 Operation of cafeterias by blind vendors.

(a) Priority in the operation of cafeterias by blind vendors on Federal property shall be afforded when the Secretary determines, on an individual basis, and after consultation with the appropriate property managing department, agency, or instrumentality, that such operation can be provided at a reasonable cost, with food of a high quality comparable to that currently provided employees, whether by contract or otherwise. Such operation shall be expected to provide maximum employment opportunities to blind vendors to the greatest extent possible. (b) In order to establish the ability of blind vendors to operate a cafeteria in such a manner as to provide food service at comparable cost and of comparable high quality as that available from other providers of cafeteria services, the appropriate State licensing agency shall be invited to respond to solicitations for offers when a cafeteria contract is contemplated by the appropriate property managing department, agency, or instrumentality. Such solicitations for offers shall establish criteria under which all responses will be judged. Such criteria may include sanitation practices, personnel, staffing, menu pricing and portion sizes, menu variety, budget and accounting practices. If the proposal received from the State licensing agency is judged to be within a competitive range and has been ranked among those proposals which have a reasonable chance of being selected for final award, the property managing department, agency, or instrumentality shall consult with the Secretary as required under paragraph (a) of this section. If the State licensing agency is dissatisfied with an action taken relative to its proposal, it may file a complaint with the Secretary under the provisions of § 395.37. (c) All contracts or other existing arrangements pertaining to the operation of cafeterias on Federal property not covered by contract with, or by permits issued to, State licensing agencies shall be renegotiated subsequent to the effective date of this part on or before the expiration of such contracts or other arrangements pursuant to the provisions of this section. (d) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, Federal property managing departments, agencies, and instrumentalities may afford priority in the operation of cafeterias by blind vendors on Federal property through direct negotiations with State licensing agencies whenever such department, agency, or instrumentality determines, on an individual basis, that such operation can be provided at a reasonable cost, with food of a high quality comparable to that currently provided employees: Provided, however, That the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section shall apply in the event that the negotiations authorized by this paragraph do not result in a contract.

34 C.F.R. § 395.34 Application for permits.

Applications for permits for the operation of vending facilities other than cafeterias shall be made in writing on the appropriate form, and submitted for the review and approval of the head of the Federal property managing department, agency, or instrumentality.

34 C.F.R. § 395.35 Terms of permit.

Every permit shall describe the location of the vending facility including any vending machines located on other than the facility premises and shall be subject to the following provisions: (a) The permit shall be issued in the name of the applicant State licensing agency which shall: (1) Prescribe such procedures as are necessary to assure that in the selection of vendors and employees for vending facilities there shall be no discrimination because of sex, race, age, creed, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, or political affiliation; and (2) Take the necessary action to assure that vendors do not discriminate against any person or persons in furnishing, or by refusing to furnish, to such person or persons the use of any vending facility, including any and all services, privileges, accommodations, and activities provided thereby, and comply with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and regulations issued pursuant thereto. (b) The permit shall be issued for an indefinite period of time subject to suspension or termination on the basis of compliance with agreed upon terms. (c) The permit shall provide that: (1) No charge shall be made to the State licensing agency for normal cleaning, maintenance, and repair of the building structure in and adjacent to the vending facility areas; (2) Cleaning necessary for sanitation, and the maintenance of vending facilities and vending machines in an orderly condition at all times, and the installation, maintenance, repair, replacement, servicing, and removal of vending facility equipment shall be without cost to the department, agency, or instrumentality responsible for the maintenance of the Federal property; and (3) Articles sold at vending facilities operated by blind licensees may consist of newspapers, periodicals, publications, confections, tobacco products, foods, beverages, chances for any lottery authorized by State law and conducted by an agency of a State within such State, and other articles or services as are determined by the State licensing agency, in consultation with the on-site official responsible for the Federal property of the property managing department, agency or instrumentality, to be suitable for a particular location. Such articles and services may be dispensed automatically or manually and may be prepared on or off the premises in accordance with all applicable health laws. (d) The permit shall further provide that vending facilities shall be operated in compliance with applicable health, sanitation, and building codes or ordinances. (e) The permit shall further provide that installation, modification, relocation, removal, and renovation of vending facilities shall be subject to the prior approval and supervision of the on-site official responsible for the Federal property of the property managing department, agency, or instrumentality, and the State licensing agency; that costs of relocations initiated by the State licensing agency shall be paid by the State licensing agency; and that costs of relocations initiated by the department, agency, or instrumentality shall be borne by such department, agency, or instrumentality. (f) The operation of a cafeteria by a blind vendor shall be covered by a contractual agreement and not by a permit.

34 C.F.R. § 395.36 Enforcement procedures.

(a) The State licensing agency shall attempt to resolve day-to-day problems pertaining to the operation of the vending facility in an informal manner with the participation of the blind vendor and the on-site official responsible for the property of the property managing department, agency, or instrumentality as necessary. (b) Unresolved disagreements concerning the terms of the permit, the Act, or the regulations in this part and any other unresolved matters shall be reported in writing to the State licensing agency supervisory personnel by the Regional or other appropriate official of the Federal property managing department, agency, or instrumentality in an attempt to resolve the issue.

34 C.F.R. § 395.37 Arbitration of State licensing agency complaints.

(a) Whenever any State licensing agency determines that any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States which has control of the maintenance, operation, and protection of Federal property is failing to comply with the provisions of the Act or of this part and all informal attempts to resolve the issues have been unsuccessful, such licensing agency may file a complaint with the Secretary. (b) Upon receipt of a complaint filed under paragraph (a) of this section, the Secretary shall convene an ad hoc arbitration panel which shall, in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. ch. 5, subchapter II, give notice, conduct a hearing and render its decision which shall be final and binding on the parties except that such decision shall be subject to appeal and review as a final agency action for purposes of the provisions of 5 U.S.C. ch. 7. The arbitration panel convened by the Secretary to hear complaints filed by a State licensing agency shall be composed of three members appointed as follows: (1) One individual designated by the State licensing agency; (2) One individual designated by the head of the Federal department, agency, or instrumentality controlling the Federal property over which the dispute arose; and (3) One individual, not employed by the Federal department, agency, or instrumentality controlling the Federal property over which the dispute arose, who shall be jointly designated by the other members of the panel and who shall serve as chairman of the panel. (c) If either the State licensing agency or the head of the Federal department, agency, or instrumentality fails to designate a member of an arbitration panel, the Secretary shall designate such member on behalf of such party. (d) If the panel finds that the acts or practices of any department, agency, or instrumentality are in violation of the Act or of this part, the head of any such department, agency, or instrumentality (subject to any appeal under paragraph (b) of this section) shall cause such acts or practices to be terminated promptly and shall take such other action as may be necessary to carry out the decision of the panel. (e) The decisions of an arbitration panel convened by the Secretary under this section shall be matters of public record and shall be published in the Federal Register. (f) The Secretary shall pay all reasonable costs of arbitration under this section in accordance with a schedule of fees and expenses which shall be published in the Federal Register.

34 C.F.R. § 395.38 Reports.

At the end of each fiscal year, each property managing department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States shall report to the Secretary the total number of applications for vending facility locations received from State licensing agencies, the number accepted, the number denied, the number still pending, the total amount of vending machine income collected and the amount of such vending machine income disbursed to the State licensing agency in each State.

Starting a business? Corpus forms LLCs in all 50 states and DC.