FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

VA - 34 - Advisory Committee on Structural Safety of Department of Veterans Affairs Facilities - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Advisory Committee on Structural Safety of Department of Veterans Affairs Facilities	Agency Name	Department of Veterans Affairs
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	34
Original Establishment Date	8/2/1973	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.va.gov/advisory/advisory_committee_...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	8
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Designated Federal Officer
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	4/25/2025	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Juan
Date Of Renewal Charter	4/25/2027	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Archilla
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	38 U.S.C. 8105(b)	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 632-5967
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*
Specific Establishment Authority*	38 U.S.C. 8105(b)	Designated Federal Officer Email*	juan.archilla@va.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	8/2/1973
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Scientific Technical Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Committee discusses various current issues, for example: a) evaluation of leasing facilities in high risk zones with various design standards and building codes; b) FEMA P-154 training requirements for the Facility Condition Assessment program; c) expedient post-disaster deployment of trained staff to inspect damaged facilities; d) adoption of the Interagency Committee on Seismic Safety in Construction Recommended Practice RP 10-22 in VA Handbook H-18-8; e) use of the International Building Code and possible other relevant sources in defining which materials are hazardous; and f) continuing to classify which Critical and Essential buildings are Exceptionally High Risk or High Risk regardless of size. The Committee continues to serve VA in a highly professional manner by assisting VA's Office of Construction & Facilities Management (CFM) in all matters of structural safety for the development of construction standards that make VA buildings safe, especially from natural hazards, e.g. earthquakes, severe storms, fire, etc. Since its inception, the Committee has made significant contributions to the updating of VA Handbook Seismic Design Requirements H-18-8, which is periodically revised under the guidance of the Committee. These activities enable the Committee to advise the Secretary on manners to improve healthcare delivery by allowing VA to modernize assets and infrastructure by striving to ensure the construction of safe and operational VA facilities after hazardous events (aligns to VA Strategic Goal 2 by ensuring Veterans' timely care and support after natural disasters).
How is membership balanced?*	Membership is comprised of at least a practicing structural engineer and a research structural engineer who are experts in structural resistance to earthquake, and other natural disasters; a geotechnical engineer; a healthcare architect with expertise in life safety matters; a fire protection engineer; and such other individuals the Secretary deems advisable. When new members are sought, membership solicitations are made open to the public in the Federal Register and professional organizations. Ex-officio members include the Executive Director, Office of Construction & Facilities Management (CFM) and the Executive Director, Office of Healthcare Environment and Facilities Programs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Committee meets as necessary to perform its functions, but not less than once a year. Its services will be necessary during the duration of VA's programs to build, remodel, or inspect facilities over which VA has direct jurisdiction or for which it contracts. In FY 2024, the Committee held one hybrid meeting on May 21-22, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The current Committee is composed of a panel of experts, in the fields of structural engineering, seismic risk, geotechnical engineering, architecture, and fire safety. The Office of Construction & Facilities Management (CFM) strives to obtain world class experts from industry and academia to provide expert advice on such important matters that affect the VA construction program and safety of existing facilities in the event of natural and manmade disasters, such as earthquakes and fires. The Advisory Committee is unique as it reports to the Secretary, providing expert, objective advice to CFM, that otherwise could not be procured through standard acquisition methods.
Why close or partially close meetings?	The committee meetings are open to the public, except during closed sessions when the Committee is conducting tours of VA other Veteran service facilities and administrative workgroup sessions. Tours of VA facilities are closed, to protect Veterans’ privacy and personal information in accordance with 5 U.S.C. sec. 552b (c)(6).
Recommendation Remarks	The Committee reinforces VA's credibility, when dealing with outside parties, such as the Joint Committee on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, etc. As of August 31, 2024, the term of one member has expired. Therefore, the Committee has 7 members (5 Committee members and 2 Ex-officio members).

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	NA
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	The Committee provides structural safety advice to the VA in the area of new construction and in mitigating risks to existing structures from earthquake, fire, and other natural disasters.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	NA	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	122	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	This is a total of recommendations for FY 2003 through FY 2024.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	94.50%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	121 out of 128 recommendations have been implemented.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	5.50%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	7 out of 122 recommendations are in progress.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	To access the Committee's website, click here: https://www.va.gov/advisory/advisory_committee_on_structural_safety_of_department_of_veterans_affairs_facilities_statutory.asp
Agency Feedback Comment*	The Department submits a formal response to each Committee recommendation, and Department officials brief the Committee on actions taken to implement recommendations. Published Annual Reports can be found online: https://www.va.gov/advisory/advisory_committee_on_structural_safety_of_department_of_veterans_affairs_facilities_statutory.asp	Narrative Description*	The Committee provides advice to the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs on matters of structural safety in the construction and remodeling of VA facilities against natural and man made disasters. Six new recommendations were submitted during FY 2024 relating to a) training for damage assessments; b) consolidation of facility criticality designations into a central design manual; c) use of HAZUS for seismic inventory risk evaluation and prioritization; d) implementation of FEMA P-154 for seismic screening into the Facility Condition Assessment program; e) use of VA seismic/structural, fire and life safety, continuity of operations standards and additional quality assurance measures for leased projects; and f) extending the seismic high risk criteria to include buildings in Moderate Low and Low seismic zones that are evaluated to be at risk of collapse.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	2/19/2025 9:23 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Applied Science Engineering Health Hospitals Safety Veterans Veterans and Veterans' Medical Care

Custom Links

Committee Level Reports