VA seeks partnerships to build and improve health-care facilities to better serve Veterans

VA is seeking interest from potential partners who want to support efforts to build world-class health-care facilities for America’s Veterans. This fall, VA released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking interest from potential partners.

“Our strategic partnerships are one of many valuable tools that allow us to provide assistance to our Veterans,” said VA secretary David Shulkin.

The request follows the implementation of Public Law 114-294, the Communities Helping Invest Through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act of 2016 – or “CHIP-IN Act” – which authorizes VA to accept donations from up to five non-federal entities to help fund and expedite the construction of health-care related capital projects.

The CHIP-IN Act aligns with one of Secretary Shulkin’s priorities of modernizing systems by streamlining and instituting infrastructure improvements to health care facilities. The act also supports the use of innovation and common-sense decision making to best serve both Veterans and taxpayers.

“Donations through the CHIP-IN Act will help us deliver health care facilities for our Veterans in a faster, more cost-effective manner,” Shulkin said.

The request seeks interest from non-federal entities, including 501(c)(3) nonprofits, private entities and donor groups for the remaining four partnership opportunities. The donations must be real property that includes a constructed facility or that is to be used as the site of a facility constructed by the donor, or a facility to be constructed by the donor on VA-controlled property. Interested parties must respond by Jan. 15.

The first CHIP-IN Act partner is helping to build a new ambulatory care center in Omaha, Nebraska. The center will provide a much-needed facility to Veterans in the region faster than a traditional funding and construction time frame, and with a reduced burden on the taxpayer.

The CHIP-IN Act will help VA forge even closer bonds to the community by developing strategic partnerships with existing and new partners that have close ties to the communities they serve. The CHIP-IN Act is also a road map for communities that want to support VA’s efforts to address the emerging needs of Veterans in a collaborative, cost-efficient manner, which will benefit taxpayers and communities broadly – and ultimately fall under VA’s current modernization efforts.

About the author: Tarrie Palombo is a VA communication specialist in St. Louis.