Sponsors (2)
The bill speeds delivery and can improve quality of VA construction through broader use of design–build, but it increases fiscal and oversight risks (and could reduce competition) unless accompanied by strong training and procurement safeguards.
Veterans will get VA medical facilities and services completed and occupied sooner because the VA must more widely use design–build, shortening time from design completion to occupancy.
VA construction projects may experience fewer change orders and stronger warranty protections, reducing disruptions to hospitals and health systems during and after construction.
Faster, more efficient construction through design–build can help implement the VA's long‑term capital plan and reduce the backlog of capital needs that would otherwise burden future budgets.
Taxpayers could face substantially higher costs if broader use of design–build reduces competition or is applied without strong oversight, increasing the risk of cost overruns on complex projects.
Shifting procurement to design–build will place greater oversight and programmatic responsibilities on VA staff, requiring training and increasing federal employee workload (and could delay some projects during the transition).
Broad endorsement of design–build risks reducing competition for some construction contracts (hurting firms that specialize in design–bid–build) and could concentrate opportunities among fewer contractors.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires VA to use federal design-build selection procedures for design and construction contracts and adds design-build to VA certification language.
Introduced May 21, 2025 by James E. Banks · Last progress May 21, 2025
Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to use the federal design-build contract selection procedures (the method established in 41 U.S.C. §3309) when contracting for design and construction of VA buildings and facilities, and forbids discouraging other federal project-management entities from using those procedures. Also adds explicit statutory coverage for "design-build construction" in the VA’s covered certification program language and states congressional findings supporting greater, properly managed use of design-build to speed and improve medical center construction.