Audit of the Seismic Safety of VA’s Facilities

Report Information

Issue Date
Report Number
14-04756-32
VA Office
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction (OALC)
Office of Management (OM)
Report Author
Office of Audits and Evaluations
Report Type
Audit
Recommendations
9
Questioned Costs
$0
Better Use of Funds
$0
Congressionally Mandated
No

Summary

Summary
OIG conducted an audit to assess VA’s earthquake preparedness based on a request received from Senator Dianne Feinstein. The OIG found VA did not effectively identify seismic risks for 15 of 97 critical and essential buildings located in high and very high seismic zones. This occurred because Facility Condition Assessments (FCAs) did not identify structural deficiencies that would be uncovered by more in-depth seismic studies and VA guidance did not require FCA contractors to review design documents resulting in sometimes reporting building conditions improperly. VA has also not mitigated 28 structural and 65 nonstructural seismic deficiencies discovered in these 97 buildings. This occurred because limited funding has slowed progress and medical facilities did not always submit construction project applications to correct the nonstructural deficiencies. In addition, contracting officers did not confirm the seismic safety of 23 of 46 leased buildings by obtaining seismic certificates or plans to mitigate seismic risks. VA also did not have a process for ensuring two enhanced use lease buildings remain seismically safe over the terms of their leases. Lastly, VA has not adequately developed and tested Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs) for the 18 health care systems and medical centers we evaluated. As a result, VA will be more susceptible to the risk of injury and loss of life to veterans and employees who might find themselves in seismically deficient buildings. We recommended the Principal Executive Director for the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction, the Under Secretary for Health, and the Acting Assistant Secretary for Management implement procedures to improve seismic risks in VA’s buildings and the Under Secretary for Health establish procedures to improve COOP development and testing.

Open Recommendation Image, SquareOpenClosed and Implemented Recommendation Image, CheckmarkClosed-ImplementedNot Implemented Recommendation Image, X character'Closed-Not Implemented
No. 1
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction (OALC)
We recommended the Principal Executive Director for the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction establish policy requiring medical facilities to conduct detailed seismic studies for all critical and essential buildings located in high and very high seismic zones that have not already undergone detailed seismic studies.
No. 2
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction (OALC)
We recommended the Principal Executive Director for the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction revise its Facility Condition Assessment guidance to require Facility Condition Assessment contractors to review structural design documents for buildings that have completed seismic retrofit projects.
No. 3
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction (OALC)
We recommended the Principal Executive Director for the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction revise its Facility Condition Assessment guidance to ensure conditions of seismically unsafe buildings are properly reported on assessment reports.
No. 4
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended the Under Secretary for Health ensure medical facilities submit construction project applications, in a timely manner, for all identified seismically unsafe structural and nonstructural deficiencies.
No. 5
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction (OALC)
We recommended the Principal Executive Director for the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction ensure that Facility Condition Assessment contractors include specific and detailed descriptions of nonstructural seismic deficiencies in their assessments.
No. 6
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Acquisitions, Logistics, and Construction (OALC)
We recommended the Principal Executive Director for the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction ensure its contracting officers obtain copies of seismic certificates or plans to mitigate seismic deficiencies from lessors prior to executing lease agreements or renewals.
No. 7
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended the Under Secretary for Health ensure its contracting officers obtain copies of seismic certificates or plans to mitigate seismic deficiencies from lessors prior to executing lease agreements or renewals.
No. 8
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Office of Management (OM)
We recommended the Acting Assistant Secretary for Management revise VA Directive 7415 to mandate that enhanced use lease agreements require developers to certify the seismic safety of buildings or to have a plan for mitigating identified seismic deficiencies prior to renewal or execution of new facility use agreements with VA organizations.
No. 9
Closed and Implemented Recommendation Image, Checkmark
to Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
We recommended the Under Secretary for Health develop policies and procedures requiring VHA medical facilities to develop and test Continuity of Operations Plans, to include documenting the testing performed, in accordance with Federal Continuity Directive 1 requirements.