Addresses Change Orders, Industry Standards and Standard Designs
The House of Representatives this week unanimously passed AGC-supported legislation that would help improve the VA construction program’s interactions with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and accountability to taxpayers and Congress. Introduced by the House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), the Construction Reform Act of 2016 (H.R. 3106) would:
- Require, to the maximum extent practicable, the VA to use industry standards, standard designs, and best practices in carrying out the construction of medical facilities;
- For VA projects at or above $100 million, (1) require USACE to execute change orders below $250,000 within 30 days; and (2) allow the VA to issue a final decision for change orders of $250,000 or more within 30 days. If the VA has not made a final decision within those 30 days, USACE can issue a final change order decision;
- Mandate more regular project status reporting to Congress for projects at or above $100 million; and
- Establish an Assistant Inspector General for Construction position, which would conduct internal oversight of the VA’s construction program—both major and minor programs.
AGC supported this initiative through the committee process last year. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
For more information, please contact Jimmy Christianson at 703-837-5325 or christiansonj@agc.org.
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