Best Qualified Federal Owner Should Execute VA Construction Program This week, AGC met with the Executive Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Office of Construction & Facilities Management (CFM) Stella Fiotes to inform her that the association will urge Congress to remove her office from executing major VA construction projects. AGC let Ms. Fiotes know that it will ask Congress to: (1) remove and replace CFM as construction manager of the agency’s major construction program (projects above $10 million) with the best-qualified federal owner through thoughtful transition process; (2) reform VA’s construction planning and design decision processes; and (3) conduct additional oversight of the VA’s minor construction program (projects $10 million and below). Since its founding in 1918, AGC of America has never called for the removal of a federal construction agency from managing its own construction program. However, AGC has continuously and vociferously advocated for well-trained federal construction and design professionals to execute agency construction programs. This association comes to this conclusion after much thought, debate and many years of consideration. This consideration is underscored by decades of difficult contractor experience with the agency and numerous Government Accountability Office reports issued over 40 years noting persistent project cost overruns and delays that CFM still grapples with today. While not every AGC member agrees with this position, this position reflects the opinion of a majority of AGC’s membership. During our meeting with the VA, AGC was sure to note that, while it has over 26,000 members, not all of our membership agrees with the position. To view AGC’s complete position on the VA construction program, click here. For more information, contact Jimmy Christianson at 703-837-5325 or christiansonj@agc.org. Return to Top |
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