Sponsors (2)
Mandating and expanding use of design‑build for VA construction can speed delivery of modern facilities and improve project management, but shifts procurement risk, may raise near‑term costs and reduce competition, and will require training and careful oversight to avoid higher long‑term costs or delays.
Veterans: VA medical facilities and other VA buildings are likely delivered faster, giving veterans quicker access to modern care spaces and services by increasing use of design‑build.
Taxpayers and VA users: Using design‑build in appropriate cases may reduce construction change orders and increase warranty protections, improving build quality and reducing some lifecycle repair burdens.
Taxpayers and policymakers: Faster, more efficient construction could help implement the VA long‑term capital plan and reduce outstanding capital needs that would otherwise burden future budgets.
Taxpayers: Expanding use of design‑build risks faster near‑term spending and larger cost overruns on complex projects if oversight and controls are not strong.
Government‑contractors and taxpayers: Requiring or broadly endorsing design‑build may reduce competition for some VA contracts (disadvantaging firms specialized in design–bid–build) and risk higher prices or less competitive oversight.
Federal employees and contractors: The shift in procurement approach transfers more procurement risk and oversight demands to VA staff and contracting teams, requiring training and increasing federal employee workload.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires the VA to use federal design‑build selection procedures for design and construction contracts and adds design‑build to VA certification rules.
Official title: Amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for certain requirements relating to the use of the design-build construction method for Department of Veterans Affairs construction projects, and for other purposes.
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" selection procedures when contracting for design and construction of VA buildings and facilities and adds design‑build to the VA's covered project certification programs. It also expresses Congressional findings supporting appropriate use of design‑build to speed delivery, reduce change orders, and improve warranties for VA medical center construction. The law prohibits discouraging other federal entities that provide project management for large VA construction projects from using the design‑build procedures and directs the Secretary to accelerate and carry out construction more efficiently using design‑build where appropriate.