Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a federal official may: certify to the Comptroller the existence of a person’s delinquent nontax liability owed by the person to the federal government; and request the Comptroller to withhold any refund and vendor payment to which the person is entitled. A federal official may certify and request the Comptroller to withhold a refund or vendor payment only if the laws of the United States: allow the Comptroller, on behalf of the State, to certify tax and nontax liabilities due to the State; allow the Comptroller, on behalf of the State, to enter into a reciprocal agreement with the United States, pursuant to which the federal official would be required to offset federal payments to collect delinquent debts owed to the State; and provide for the payment of the amount withheld to the State. The Comptroller shall apply a refund or vendor payment received from a federal official according to the priorities under § 13-918 of this subtitle.