(a) Basis of an item shall include the initial price paid (or retail value at the time of acquisition if acquired by gift), inland and overseas transportation costs (if not reimbursed by the United States Government), shipping insurance, taxes, customs fees, duties or other charges, and capital improvements, but shall not include insurance on an item while in use or storage, maintenance, repair or related costs, or financing charges.

(b) Charitable contribution means a contribution or gift as defined in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, or other similar contribution or gift to a bona fide charitable foreign entity as determined pursuant to policies, rules or procedures issued by the chief of mission pursuant to § 136.5(b).

(c) Chief of mission has the meaning given such term by section 102(e) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 2902(3).

(d) Contractor means: (1) An individual employed by personal services contract pursuant to section 2(c) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2669(c)), pursuant to section 636(a)(3) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2396(a)(3)), or pursuant to any other similar authority including, in the case of an organization performing services under such authority, an individual involved in the performance of such service; and (2) any other individual or firm that enjoys exemptions from import limitations, customs duties or taxes on personal property from a foreign country in connection with performance of a contract for goods or services when such contract is with the United States Government or an agency or instrumentality thereof or when such contract is directly financed by grant assistance from the United States Government or an agency or instrumentality thereof and the individual or firm is a party to the contract, a subcontractor, or an employee of a contractor or subcontractor.

(e) Employee means an individual who is under the jurisdiction of a chief of mission to a foreign country as provided under section 207 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980. (22 U.S.C. 3927) and who is—

(1) An employee as defined by section 2105 of title 5, United States Code;

(2) An officer or employee of the United States Postal Service or of the Postal Rate Commission;

(3) A member of a uniformed service who is not under the command of an area military commander, or

(4) An expert or consultant as authorized pursuant to section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, with the United States or any agency, department, or establishment thereof; but is not a national or permanent resident of the foreign country in which employed.

(f) Family member means any member of the family of an employee who is entitled to exemption from import limitation, customs duties, or taxes which would otherwise apply by virtue of his or her status as a dependent or member of the household of the employee.

(g) Foreign country means any country or territory, excluding the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and other territories and possessions of the United States.

(h) Except as otherwise provided by a chief of mission in policies, rules or procedures issued pursuant to § 136.5(b), an item shall be deemed of “minimal value” if its acquisition cost in U.S. dollars (or retail value if received as a gift) is within the limit determined by the Administrator of General Services for “minimal value” of foreign gifts under 5 U.S.C. 7342,currently. For purposes of determining “minimal value,” all constitutent parts of components of an audio or visual system, automobile, boat, computer system, or other integrated machine, system or item of equipment must be valued as a single item even if acquired separately, except that spare or superseded parts (e.g., an old set of tires that has been replaced on vehicle) may be valued as separate items.

(i) Personal property means any item of personal property, including automobiles, computers, boats, audio and video equipment and any other items acquired for personal use, except that items properly determined to be of “minimal value” shall not be subject to limitations on disposition except for purposes of § 136.4(d) or as prescribed in policies, rules or procedures issued by a chief of mission.

(j) Profit means any proceeds (including cash and other valuable consideration but not including amounts of such proceeds given as charitable contributions) for the sale, disposition or assignment of personal property in excess of the basis for such property.