VA Selects Contractor for Colorado Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
<0> U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsOffice of Public AffairsMedia Relations202-461-7600 </0>
The Department of Veterans Affairs has selected the contractor to build an expanded community-based outpatient clinic in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“This new facility will ensure that Colorado’s Veterans continue to have the world-class medical care that they’ve earned through their service to our Nation,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.
One of Secretary Shinseki’s top priorities is increasing access to VA care and services for Veterans wherever they live. VA is expanding access in a three-pronged effort that includes facilities, programs and technology.
The contract was awarded to Colorado Springs VA, LLC and will create 235 construction jobs. Once the facility is completed in spring 2014, VA will pay fully-serviced rent of approximately $3 million annually.
The contract calls for construction of a three-story building at the corner of Fillmore Street and Centennial Boulevard in Colorado Springs. The project includes 76,731 square feet of space for specialty services for Veterans, including primary care, mental health and ancillary diagnostic services. More than 600 parking spaces will also be constructed.
The clinic will house outpatient services for more than 20,000 Veterans annually in the Eastern Rockies area.
Last year, VA spent $3.4 billion providing health care, benefits and services to Colorado’s 420,000 Veterans. VA operates major medical centers in Grand Junction and Denver, with outpatient clinics and Vet Centers across the state.
VA operates one of the nation’s largest integrated health care systems in the country. With a health care budget of about $50 billion, VA expects to provide care to 6.1 million patients during 920,000 hospitalizations and nearly 80 million outpatient visits this year. VA’s health care network includes 152 major medical centers and more than 800 community-based outpatient clinics.