Отчет ревизоров выявил перерасход в 64,5 млн долларов и задержки до семи лет при строительстве в медицинском центре ветеранов в Фейетвилле

Let us read it for you. Listen now. FAYETTEVILLE — A review by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General found construction and maintenance projects at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center exceeded cost estimates by $64.5 million and experienced delays of up to seven years. The office conducted a review of five minor construction and nonrecurring maintenance projects at the medical center after receiving a hotline complaint in March 2024, according to a report released Wednesday. “Minor construction includes projects with costs up to $30 million and typically involves expanding a facility’s square footage through new construction at specialty care buildings, clinics or parking structures,” the report states. “Nonrecurring maintenance focuses on renovation projects that address infrastructure deficiencies.” The projects are listed in the report as: • A new inpatient mental health building. • Renovation of the inpatient medical surgery unit. • Renovation of the logistics area and sterile processing service. • Renovation of a laundry facility. • A new water storage facility. The March 2024 complaint included concerns projects had been delayed several years; contracts exceeded independent government cost estimates; delays on projects created challenges in moving forward on new projects; and the medical center had more construction contract terminations than other facilities in the regional health care network, the report states. The review confirmed several awarded contracts exceeded the government’s cost estimates, and delays on one project affected the medical center’s ability to move forward with another, according to a news release from the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, the office did not substantiate an accusation the facility had more contract terminations than others in the region. The office found the medical center’s contracting officer’s representatives — employees responsible for overseeing the projects — did not consistently provide complete design requirements, prepare detailed statements of work or keep records of design reviews. Those employees also had not received needed training, according to the report. All five projects mentioned in the complaint had delays ranging from one year to more than seven years beyond the original completion estimate. These delays almost tripled the estimated costs from the approved $34.5 million to about $100 million, according to the report. Three of the five projects were still under construction in January. The office determined most of the $64.5 million increase could have been avoided through clearer communication and stronger project oversight. The delays also created additional costs for storing equipment, maintaining security and providing laundry services, according to the report. “The review team also found that delays with the construction of a new inpatient mental health building prevented the medical center from turning its old mental health building into an inpatient medical surgery unit as initially planned,” the report states. Given these findings, the office made recommendations to help ensure timely completion of future projects, including better training and documentation practices for engineering staff. The Fayetteville medical director and the South Central Veterans Health Care Network director agreed with the recommendations and submitted action plans to address the issues, according to the report. The inspector general reported one of the recommendations — to comply with Veterans Health Administration policies and guidance about the review of architectural and engineering designs — had been met and closed the first recommendation. However, the action plans submitted did not “sufficiently address” the training needs and documentation procedures noted in the remaining recommendations, according to the report. Therefore, the office plans to monitor implementation of the planned actions, “and will close them when VA provides sufficient evidence of progress addressing the issues identified,” the report states. VA Press Secretary Quinn Slaven said in an emailed statement Thursday that the, "VA appreciates OIG’s assistance in identifying yet another problem the Biden Administration failed to address. VA has already implemented all four OIG recommendations with one already closed and the remaining three pending OIG approval of corrective actions." Grace Hurt can be reached by email at [email protected].