38 U.S.C. § 8103 (VETERANS’ BENEFITS)
§ 8103. Authority to construct and alter, and to acquire sites for, medical facilities
(a) Subject to section 8104 of this title, the Secretary—
(1) may construct or alter any medical facility and may acquire, by purchase, lease, condemnation, donation, exchange, or otherwise, such land or interests in land as the Secretary considers necessary for use as the site for such construction or alteration;
(2) may acquire, by purchase, lease, condemnation, donation, exchange, or otherwise, any facility (including the site of such facility) that the Secretary considers necessary for use as a medical facility; and
(3) in order to assure compliance with section 8110(a)(2) of this title, in the case of any outpatient medical facility for which it is proposed to lease space and for which a qualified lessor and an appropriate leasing arrangement are available, shall execute a lease for such facility within 12 months after funds are made available for such purpose.
(b) Whenever the Secretary considers it to be in the interest of the United States to construct a new medical facility to replace an existing medical facility, the Secretary (1) may demolish the existing facility and use the site on which it is located for the site of the new medical facility, or (2) if in the judgment of the Secretary it is more advantageous to construct such medical facility on a different site in the same locality, may exchange such existing facility and the site of such existing facility for the different site.
(c) Whenever the Secretary determines that any site acquired for the construction of a medical facility is not suitable for that purpose, the Secretary may exchange such site for another site to be used for that purpose or may sell such site.
(d)
(1) The Secretary may provide for the acquisition of not more than three facilities for the provision of outpatient services or nursing home care through lease-purchase arrangements on real property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2)
(A) In carrying out this subsection and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may lease, with or without compensation and for a period of not to exceed 35 years, to another party any of the real property described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(B) Such real property shall be used as the site of a facility referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection—
(i) constructed and owned by the lessee of such real property; and
(ii) leased under paragraph (3)(A) of this subsection to the Department for such use and for such other activities as the Secretary determines are appropriate.
(3)
(A) The Secretary may enter into a lease for the use of any facility described in paragraph (2)(B) of this subsection for not more than 35 years under such terms and conditions as may be in the best interests of the Department.
(B) Each agreement to lease a facility under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall include a provision that—
(i) the obligation of the United States to make payments under the agreement is subject to the availability of appropriations for that purpose; and
(ii) the ownership of such facility shall vest in the United States at the end of such lease.
(4)
(A) The Secretary may sublease any space in such a facility to another party at a rate not less than—
(i) the rental rate paid by the Secretary for such space under paragraph (3) of this subsection; plus
(ii) the amount the Secretary pays for the costs of administering such facility (including operation, maintenance, utility, and rehabilitation costs) which are attributable to such space.
(B) In any such sublease, the Secretary shall include such terms relating to default and nonperformance as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States.
(5) The Secretary shall use the receipts of any payment for the lease of real property under paragraph (2) for the payment of the lease of a facility under paragraph (3).
(6) The authority to enter into an agreement under this subsection—
(A) shall not take effect until the Secretary has entered into agreements under section 316 of this title to carry out at least three collocations; and
(B) shall expire on October 1, 1993.
(e)
(1) In the case of any super construction project, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with an appropriate non-Department Federal entity to provide full project management services for the super construction project, including management over the project design, acquisition, construction, and contract changes.
(2) An agreement entered into under paragraph (1) with a Federal entity shall provide that the Secretary shall reimburse the Federal entity for all costs associated with the provision of project management services under the agreement.
(3) In this subsection, the term “super construction project” means a project for the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a medical facility involving a total expenditure of more than $100,000,000.
(f) To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall use industry standards, standard designs, and best practices in carrying out the construction of medical facilities.
(g)
(1)
(A) Not later than September 30 of the fiscal year following the fiscal year during which the VA Asset and Infrastructure Review Act of 2018 is enacted, the Secretary shall implement the covered training curriculum and the covered certification program.
(B) In designing and implementing the covered training curriculum and the covered certification program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use as models existing training curricula and certification programs that have been established under chapter 87 of title 10, United States Code, as determined relevant by the Secretary.
(2) The Secretary may develop the training curriculum under paragraph (1)(A) in a manner that provides such training in any combination of—
(A) training provided in person;
(B) training provided over an internet website; or
(C) training provided by another department or agency of the Federal Government.
(3) The Secretary may develop the certification program under paragraph (1)(A) in a manner that uses—
(A) one level of certification; or
(B) more than one level of certification, as determined appropriate by the Secretary with respect to the level of certification for different grades of the General Schedule.
(4) The Secretary may enter into a contract with an appropriate entity to provide the covered training curriculum and the covered certification program under paragraph (1)(A).
(5)
(A) Not later than September 30 of the second fiscal year following the fiscal year during which the VA Asset and Infrastructure Review Act of 2018 is enacted, the Secretary shall ensure that the majority of employees subject to the covered certification program achieve the certification or the appropriate level of certification pursuant to paragraph (3), as the case may be.
(B) After carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure that each employee subject to the covered certification program achieves the certification or the appropriate level of certification pursuant to paragraph (3), as the case may be, as quickly as practicable.
(6) In this subsection:
(A) The term “covered certification program” means, with respect to employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs who are members of occupational series relating to construction or facilities management, or employees of the Department who award or administer contracts for major construction, minor construction, or nonrecurring maintenance, including as contract specialists or contracting officers’ representatives, a program to certify knowledge and skills relating to construction or facilities management and to ensure that such employees maintain adequate expertise relating to industry standards and best practices for the acquisition of design and construction services.
(B) The term “covered training curriculum” means, with respect to employees specified in subparagraph (A), a training curriculum relating to construction or facilities management.
(h)
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law requiring the use of competitive procedures, including section 3301 of title 41, when the Secretary determines it to be in the best interest of the Department, the Secretary may enter into a lease with an academic affiliate or covered entity to acquire space for the purpose of providing health-care resources to veterans.
(2) In this subsection:
(A) The term “academic affiliate” means an institution or organization described in section 7302(d) of this title.
(B) The term “covered entity” means a unit or subdivision of a State, local, or municipal government, public or nonprofit agency, institution, or organization, or other institution or organization as the Secretary considers appropriate that owns property controlled by an academic affiliate to be leased under this subsection.
(C) The term “health-care resource” has the meaning given that term in section 8152(1) of this title.
(D) The term “space” means any room, unit, floor, wing, building, parking facility, or other subdivision of a building or facility owned or controlled by an academic affiliate.
(Added Pub. L. 96–22, title III, § 301(a), June 13, 1979, 93 Stat. 56, § 5003; amended Pub. L. 101–237, title VI, § 603(b), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2097; renumbered § 8103 and amended Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), (d)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238, 239; Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404, 405; Pub. L. 103–446, title XII, § 1201(d)(16), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4684; Pub. L. 114–58, title V, § 502(a), Sept. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 537; Pub. L. 114–315, title VIII, § 801(a), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1590; Pub. L. 115–182, title II, § 211, June 6, 2018, 132 Stat. 1460; Pub. L. 117–168, title VII, § 704, Aug. 10, 2022, 136 Stat. 1799; Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LI, § 5124(c), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3211.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: The fiscal year during which the VA Asset and Infrastructure Review Act of 2018 is enacted, referred to in subsec. (g)(1)(A), (5)(A), is the fiscal year during which Pub. L. 115–182, which was approved June 6, 2018, was enacted.
heading: Amendments
text: 2022—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 117–168 added subsec. (h).
Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 117–263 substituted “section 3301 of title 41” for “section 2304 of title 10”.
2018—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 115–182 amended subsec. (g) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (g) read as follows: “The Secretary shall ensure that each employee of the Department with responsibilities, as determined by the Secretary, relating to the infrastructure construction or alteration of medical facilities, including such construction or alteration carried out pursuant to contracts or agreements, undergoes a program of ongoing professional training and development. Such program shall be designed to ensure that employees maintain adequate expertise relating to industry standards and best practices for the acquisition of design and construction services. The Secretary may provide the program under this subsection directly or through a contract or agreement with a non-Federal entity or with a non-Department Federal entity.”
2016—Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 114–315 added subsecs. (f) and (g).
2015—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–58 added subsec. (e).
1994—Subsec. (d)(6)(A). Pub. L. 103–446 substituted “section 316” for “section 230(c)”.
1991—Pub. L. 102–40, § 402(b)(1), renumbered section 5003 of this title as this section.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.
Pub. L. 102–40, § 402(d)(1), substituted “8104” for “5004” in introductory provisions and “8110(a)(2)” for “5010(a)(2)” in par. (3).
Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.
1989—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 101–237 added subsec. (d).
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Effective Date of 2022 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 117–263 effective as if included in the enactment of the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 (Public Law 117–168), see section 524(d) of Pub. L. 117–263, set out as a note under section 1120 of this title.
heading: Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 114–58, title V, § 502(b), Sept. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 538, provided that:
“The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to the following:
“(1) The medical facility construction project in Denver, Colorado, specified in section 2 of the Construction Authorization and Choice Improvement Act (Public Law 114–19; 129 Stat. 215).
“(2) Any super construction project (as defined in section 8103(e)(3) of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a)) that is authorized on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 30, 2015].”
heading: Effective Date
text: Section effective Oct. 1, 1979, but not applicable with respect to the acquisition, construction, or alteration of any medical facilities if the acquisition, construction, or alteration (not including exchange) was approved by the President before Oct. 1, 1979, see section 302 of Pub. L. 96–22, set out as a note under section 8101 of this title.
heading: Communities Helping Invest Through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans
text: Pub. L. 114–294, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1504, as amended by Pub. L. 117–42, § 4, Sept. 30, 2021, 135 Stat. 342; Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LI, § 5125(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3211, provided that:
“SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
“This Act may be cited as the ‘Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016’ or the ‘CHIP IN for Vets Act of 2016’.
“SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON ACCEPTANCE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF DONATED FACILITIES AND RELATED IMPROVEMENTS.
“(a) Pilot Program Authorized.—
“(1) In general.—
Notwithstanding sections 8103 and 8104 of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary may accept donations of the following property from entities described in paragraph (2):
“(A) Real property (including structures and equipment associated therewith)—
“(i) that includes a constructed facility; or
“(ii) to be used as the site of a facility constructed by the entity.
“(B) A facility to be constructed by the entity on real property of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“(2) Entities described.—
Entities described in this paragraph are the following:
“(A) A State or local authority.
“(B) An organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)] and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code [26 U.S.C. 501(a)].
“(C) A limited liability corporation.
“(D) A private entity.
“(E) A donor or donor group.
“(F) Any other non-Federal Government entity.
“(3) Limitation.—
The Secretary may accept not more than five donations of real property and facility improvements under the pilot program and as described in this section.
“(b) Conditions for Acceptance of Property.—
The Secretary may accept the donation of a property described in subsection (a)(1) under the pilot program only if—
“(1) the property is—
“(A) a property with respect to which funds have been appropriated for a Department facility project or for which funds are available from the Construction, Minor Projects, or Construction, Major Projects appropriations accounts; or
“(B) a property identified as—
“(i) meeting a need of the Department as part of the long-range capital planning process of the Department; and
“(ii) the location for a Department facility project that is included on the Strategic Capital Investment Planning process priority list in the most recent budget submitted to Congress by the President pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code; and
“(2) an entity described in subsection (a)(2) has entered into or is willing to enter into a formal agreement with the Secretary in accordance with subsection (c) under which the entity agrees to independently donate the real property, improvements, goods, or services, for the Department facility project in an amount acceptable to the Secretary and at no additional cost to the Federal Government.
“(c) Requirement To Enter Into an Agreement.—
“(1) In general.—
The Secretary may accept real property and improvements donated under the pilot program by an entity described in subsection (a)(2) only if the entity enters into a formal agreement with the Secretary that provides for—
“(A) the donation of real property and improvements (including structures and equipment associated therewith) that includes a constructed facility; or
“(B) the construction by the entity of a facility on—
“(i) real property and improvements of the Department of Veterans Affairs; or
“(ii) real property and improvements donated to the Department by the entity.
“(2) Content of formal agreements.—
With respect to an entity described in subsection (a)(2) that seeks to enter into a formal agreement under paragraph (1) of this subsection that includes the construction by the entity of a facility, the formal agreement shall provide for the following:
“(A) The entity shall conduct all necessary environmental and historic preservation due diligence, shall comply with all local zoning requirements (except for studies and consultations required of the Department under Federal law), and shall obtain all permits required in connection with the construction of the facility.
“(B) The entity shall use construction standards required of the Department when designing, repairing, altering, or building the facility, except to the extent the Secretary determines otherwise, as permitted by applicable law.
“(C) The entity shall provide the real property, improvements, goods, or services in a manner described in subsection (b)(2) sufficient to complete the construction of the facility, at no additional cost to the Federal Government.
“(d) No Payment of Rent or Usage Fees.—
The Secretary may not pay rent, usage fees, or any other amounts to an entity described in subsection (a)(2) or any other entity for the use or occupancy of real property or improvements donated under this section.
“(e) Funding.—
“(1) From department.—
“(A) In general.—
Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the Secretary may not provide funds to help the entity finance, design, or construct a facility in connection with real property and improvements donated under the pilot program by an entity described in subsection (a)(2) that are in addition to the funds appropriated for the facility or funds already generally available in the Construction, Minor Projects, or Construction, Major Projects appropriations accounts as of the date on which the Secretary and the entity enter into a formal agreement under subsection (c) for the donation of the real property and improvements.
“(B) Unobligated amounts.—
The Secretary may provide additional funds to help an entity described in subsection (a)(2) finance, design, or construct a facility in connection with real property and improvements to be donated under the pilot program and proposed to be accepted by the Secretary under subsection (b)(1)(B) if—
“(i) the Secretary determines that doing so is in the best interest of the Department and consistent with the mission of the Department; and
“(ii) funding provided under this subparagraph—
“(I) is in addition to amounts that have been appropriated for the facility before the date on which the Secretary and the entity enter into a formal agreement under subsection (c) for the construction and donation of the real property and improvements; and
“(II) is derived only from amounts that—
“(aa) are unobligated balances available in the Construction, Minor Projects, or Construction, Major Projects appropriations accounts of the Department that—
“(AA) are not associated with a specific project; or
“(BB) are amounts that are associated with a specific project, but are unobligated because they are the result of bid savings; and
“(bb) were appropriated to such an account before the date described in subclause (I).
“(C) Escalation clauses.—
“(i) In general.—
The Secretary may include an escalation clause in a formal agreement under subsection (c) that authorizes an escalation of not more than an annual amount based on a rate established in the formal agreement and mutually agreed upon by the Secretary and an entity to account for inflation for an area if the Secretary determines, after consultation with the head of an appropriate Federal entity that is not part of the Department, that such escalation is necessary and in the best interest of the Department.
“(ii) Use of existing amounts.—
The Secretary may obligate funds pursuant to clause (i) in connection with a formal agreement under subsection (c) using amounts that—
“(I) are unobligated balances available in the Construction, Minor Projects, or Construction, Major Projects appropriations accounts of the Department that—
“(aa) are not associated with a specific project; or
“(bb) are amounts that are associated with a specific project, but are unobligated because they are the result of bid savings; and
“(II) were appropriated to such an account before the date on which the Secretary and the entity entered into the formal agreement.
“(D) Availability.—
Unobligated amounts shall be available pursuant to subparagraphs (B) and (C) only to the extent and in such amounts as provided in advance in appropriations Acts subsequent to the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, subject to subparagraph (E).
“(E) Limitation.—
Unobligated amounts made available pursuant to subparagraphs (B) and (C) may not exceed 40 percent of the amount appropriated for the facility before the date on which the Secretary and the entity entered into a formal agreement under subsection (c).
“(F) Terms and conditions.—
The Secretary shall provide funds pursuant to this paragraph under such terms, conditions, and schedule as the Secretary determines appropriate.
“(2) From entity.—
An entity described in subsection (a)(2) that is donating a facility constructed by the entity under the pilot program shall be required, pursuant to a formal agreement entered into under subsection (c), to provide other funds in addition to the amounts provided by the Department under paragraph (1) that are needed to complete construction of the facility.
“(f) Application.—
An entity described in subsection (a)(2) that seeks to donate real property and improvements under the pilot program shall submit to the Secretary an application to address needs relating to facilities of the Department, including health care needs, identified in the Construction and Long-Range Capital Plan of the Department, at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
“(g) Information on Donations and Related Projects.—
“(1) In general.—
The Secretary shall include in the budget submitted to Congress by the President pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, information regarding real property and improvements donated under the pilot program during the year preceding the submittal of the budget and the status of facility projects relating to that property.
“(2) Elements.—
Information submitted under paragraph (1) shall provide a detailed status of donations of real property and improvements conducted under the pilot program and facility projects relating to that property, including the percentage completion of the donations and projects.
“(h) Biennial Report of Comptroller General of the United States.—
Not less frequently than once every 2 years until the termination date set forth in subsection (i), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the donation agreements entered into under the pilot program.
“(i) Termination.—
The authority for the Secretary to accept donations under the pilot program shall terminate on December 16, 2026.
“(j) Rules of Construction.—
“(1) Entering arrangements and agreements.—
Nothing in this section shall be construed as a limitation on the authority of the Secretary to enter into other arrangements or agreements that are authorized by law and not inconsistent with this section.
“(2) Treatment of assistance.—
Nothing provided under this section shall be treated as Federal financial assistance as defined in section 200.40 of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on February 21, 2021.”
[Pub. L. 117–263, div. E, title LI, § 5125(b), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3213, provided that: “Each agreement entered into under section (2)(c) [probably means “section 2(c)”] of such Act [Pub. L. 114–294, set out above] before the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2022] that was in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act may be amended to incorporate terms authorized by subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 2(e)(1) of such Act, as added by subsection (a)(2)(D) of this section.”
]
heading: Designation of Construction Agent for Certain Construction Projects by Department of Veterans Affairs
text: Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title X, § 1096, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1020, provided that:
“(a) In General.—
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement subject to subsections (b), (c), and (e) of section 1535 of title 31, United States Code, with the Army Corps of Engineers or another entity of the Federal Government to serve, on a reimbursable basis, as the construction agent for the construction, alteration, or acquisition of any medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs specifically authorized by Congress after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 25, 2015] that involves a total expenditure of more than $100,000,000, excluding any acquisition by exchange.
“(b) Agreement.—
Under the agreement entered into under subsection (a), the construction agent shall provide design, procurement, and construction management services for the construction, alteration, and acquisition of medical facilities of the Department.”
heading: Development of Medical-Facility Modular Components
text: Pub. L. 99–166, title III, § 304, Dec. 3, 1985, 99 Stat. 956, directed Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs, not later than one year after Dec. 3, 1985, to develop a modular approach to planning and design of an appropriate Veterans’ Administration medical facility for furnishing of hospital care.