Report Summary

Title: Review of VHA's Minor Construction Program
Report Link: http://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-12-03346-69.pdf
Report Number: 12-03346-69
Issue Date: 12/17/2012
City/State: Providence, RI
Boston, MA
Bay Pines, FL
Miami, FL
Mather, CA
San Francisco, CA
VA Office: Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Report Author: Office of Audits and Evaluations
Report Type: Audits, Reviews & Evaluations
Release Type: Unrestricted
Summary: At the request of the House Committee on Appropriations, and following irregularities identified at the Miami VA Healthcare System, OIG reviewed the VHA Minor Construction Program. VA medical facilities combined design and construction work for 7 of 30 minor construction projects into 3 projects exceeding the $10 million minor construction limit. VHA violated the Antideficiency Act by combining 5 minor construction projects into 2 projects exceeding the $10 million threshold. We found VHA lacks assurance that construction projects are designed within their approved scopes, medical facility funding is used appropriately, and underperforming projects are identified in timely manner. We recommended the Under Secretary for Health publish Minor Construction policy, develop procedures to ensure projects are executed within approved scope. VHA should implement funding mechanisms, ensure program reviews are performed, and strengthen project tracking reports. The Under Secretary agreed with our recommendations and provided an acceptable action plan.