Congressman Mica blames VA for delay in Lake Nona VA Hospital

VA puts hospital contractor for Orlando project on notice
By Marni Jameson
Orlando Sentinel
February 5, 2013

"The contractor has a reputation of doing a professional job with no conflicts," said Mica, "and the opposite is true of the VA."

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has fired another volley in its ongoing showdown with the main contractor for the much-delayed Orlando VA Medical Center.

The VA has issued a "Show Cause" notice to hospital contractor Brasfield and Gorrie. The legal order basically asks the contractor why it should not be fired.

Brasfield and Gorrie has until Monday to respond to the VA's claims, brought last week.

"It's getting to where there may be some action by the VA to terminate the contractor," said U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, who met with both parties last month. "I would hope that's not the case. I hope they can continue the work, get the project done and settle the differences afterward."

If the contractor is fired, hospital completion would be delayed even further because of the time needed to hire a new builder and go through the contracting process, he said.

The $665 million hospital was initially scheduled to open last October, but thousands of plan changes, poor communication and disagreements have stalled construction, according to the 90-year-old construction firm.
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VA Hospital costs in Orlando are on track

VA Hospital costs in Orlando are on track, officials tell Mica
By Marni Jameson
Orlando Sentinel
July 30, 2012

Veterans' Affairs officials overseeing the construction of the new Orlando VA Medical Center told U.S. Rep. John Mica today that project costs are actually well under budget, and that the agency won't be asking Congress for any more money.

"This is the best feeling I've had in a long time about this project," said Mica (R-Winter Park). "It's not as grim a picture as has been painted."

In a Congressional hearing in March, representatives from Brasfield & Gorrie, the main contractor for the project, testified that the project was running at least $120 million over budget.

Congress has appropriated $665 million for the 1.2 million-square-foot medical center, which was supposed to open this October, but is delayed.

In the meeting to update Mica on the project's status, VA officials committed to a summer 2013 completion. "The work can physically be done within that time frame," said Bart Bruchok, senior resident engineer for the VA project.

Brasfield & Gorrie has targeted completion for the end of 2014.
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Congressman Mica fights for St. Augustine homeless veterans

Mica blames bureaucracy for delays in accreditation
April 19, 2011
U.S. Rep. John L. Mica held an emergency meeting of state VA and other leaders today, April 19th, at 3:30 p.m. in St. Augustine City Hall, where he tells Historic City News Editor Michael Gold that he wants answers regarding the delay in getting proper accreditation for the Clyde E. Lassen State VA Nursing Home.

Mica voiced his concern today to Veterans Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, “To resolve this outstanding matter and to prevent any further veterans from being turned away.”

The new Clyde E. Lassen State VA Nursing Home, which opened this past September, will help homeless veterans in the region and will also provide much needed counseling and long-term medical care for those who have served our nation.

“It is a shame that it has taken nearly seven months for the new state VA nursing home in St. Augustine to become fully accredited,” said Mica. “St. Johns County is home to over 17,000 veterans — and growing.”
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Mica blames bureaucracy for delays in accreditation

VA seeks clinic site for Putnam County Florida

VA seeks clinic site

By Chris DeVitto
Published: Thursday, July 9, 2009 1:07 AM EDT
Palatka, Putnam County and local business leaders are still looking for a building to house a Veterans Administration outpatient clinic that would serve 4,000 area veterans.

During a phone conference Wednesday with U.S. Rep. John Mica, Veterans Affairs officials, Palatka officials and county officials discussed options for housing the clinic.

"We are still looking at a neighborhood of 10,000 gross square feet and probably 70 to 100 parking spaces?" Mica, R-Winter Park, asked veterans officials during a 30-minute phone conference.

In 2008, a spokeswoman for the VA said the new clinic would offer an opportunity for local residents to receive basic treatment without driving 30-40 miles to an existing facility and would be similar in nature to what would be offered at a large doctor's office. More complicated specialty care would remain with one of the larger VA facilities in Jacksonville, Lake City or Gainesville.
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VA seeks clinic site