Calling the problems at the VA Medical Center in Aurora “unacceptable,” the Department of Veterans Affairs said Monday it is forming an administrative investigative board to look into possible mismanagement and misconduct.
“Our obligation is to ensure VA doesn’t allow such an outcome to occur again by learning all we can from past mistakes and put in place corrective actions to improve future performance,” the department said in a statement. “Veterans and taxpayers also expect a thorough review be completed and those responsible are held accountable.”
Along with the investigative board, the VA said it has asked the Army Corps of Engineers to complete a detailed examination of the VA’s major construction program “to improve management processes, structures, and controls in project oversight and delivery.”
On Dec. 17, to partner with the VA to take over the management of the Aurora project. That came almost 10 days after Kiewit-Turner, the contractor, decided to from construction because of cost overruns. At that time, it was determined that the cost for the center would be more than $1 billion, far more than the original $604 million price tag, and that the VA had failed to meet its contractual obligations.
After a series of negotiations, which included some input from Colorado’s congressional delegation, an interim deal was reached, with construction resuming Dec. 22. That agreement included a $157 million payment from the VA to Kiewit-Turner, which is back on the project, for past costs.
On Monday, VA Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson was on the site. The VA said Gibson will make regular visits as construction continues.
