VA Admits to Problems; Seeks ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Partnership
This week, ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ met with Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald, at his request, to discuss the agency’s construction program and our concerns for its future. Secretary McDonald admitted to the agency’s difficulties and expressed his sincere interest in working with ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ and its members to improve its construction program. ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ graciously accepted his offer to work with him and the agency to do so.
This meeting comes after to remove and replace VA’s Office of Construction and Facilities Management as construction manager of the agency's major construction program (projects above $10 million) with the best-qualified federal owner through a thoughtful transition process. The secretary noted his disagreement with ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½â€™s position, but willingness to partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to a greater extent.
TheWashington Post issued a this week on the problems at the Denver VA Hospital Project, noting ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½â€™s position. ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ is the first and only national construction trade association to date to call for dramatic and real reforms to the VA construction program.
For more information, please contact Jimmy Christianson at christiansonj@agc.org or (703) 837-5325.