Department of Veterans Affairs Construction Management Improvement Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.5917 | Sponsor: Rep. Banks, Jim (R-IN)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Department of Veterans Affairs Construction Management Improvement Act of 2021
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report on the implementation of operational and policy reforms in construction procurement. Additionally, the VA must report on certain construction projects dealing with the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a medical facility involving a total expenditure of more than $100 million during FY2017-FY2021.

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress 
 reports on the implementation of operational and policy reforms with 
respect to construction projects of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans Affairs 
Construction Management Improvement Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. REPORTS ON CONSTRUCTION PROCUREMENT.

    (a) Report on Operational and Policy Reforms.--Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans Affairs' of 
the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the implementation 
of operational and policy reforms in construction procurement. Such 
report shall include each of the following:
            (1) A listing and description of each such operational and 
        policy reform relating to minor construction, non-recurring 
        maintenance, leasing, major construction, or super 
        construction.
            (2) With respect to minor construction and non-recurring 
        maintenance projects--
                    (A) a comparison of procurement lead times and 
                construction completion times for each of fiscal years 
                2016 through 2021; and
                    (B) if the Secretary determines that procurement 
                lead times and construction completion times were 
                successively reduced from fiscal year 2016 through 
                fiscal year 2021, a discussion of how such reduction 
                was accomplished.
            (3) With respect to major and minor leases--
                    (A) a comparison of procurement lead times and 
                lease activation completion times for each of fiscal 
                years 2016 through 2021;
                    (B) if the Secretary determines that procurement 
                lead times and lease activation completion times were 
                successively reduced from fiscal year 2016 through 
                fiscal year 2021, a discussion of how such reduction 
                was accomplished; and
                    (C) a discussion of which leases utilized 
                standardized designs, whether and why any designs were 
                customized, and justifications for instances in which 
                standardized designs were not utilized.
            (4) With respect to major construction--
                    (A) a comparison of procurement lead times and 
                construction completion times for each of fiscal years 
                2016 through 2021;
                    (B) if the Secretary determines that procurement 
                lead times and construction completion times were 
                successively reduced from fiscal year 2016 through 
                fiscal year 2021, a discussion of how such reduction 
                was accomplished; and
                    (C) a comparison of actual costs to initial cost 
                estimates for each project completed during each of 
                fiscal years 2019 through 2021.
    (b) Report on Cost and Schedule Variances.--Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, in consultation with the Commanding General of the Army Corps 
of Engineers, shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of 
the Senate and House of Representatives a report that includes, with 
respect to each super construction project included in a report under 
section 8120 of title 38, United States Code, during any of fiscal 
years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, or 2021--
            (1) a comparison of the actual cost and schedule variances 
        and the planned cost and schedule for each such project; and
            (2) an explanation as to why actual cost and schedule 
        variances have or have not improved.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``procurement lead times'' means the number of 
        days between origination of a requirement and award of a 
        contract or lease.
            (2) The term ``construction completion times'' means the 
        number of days between the provision of notice to proceed and 
        beneficial occupancy.
            (3) The term ``lease activation completion times'' means 
        the number of days between origination of a requirement for a 
        leased facility and activation of such facility.
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