Facilities Staffing Requirements
for the Veterans Health Administration—
Resource Planning and Methodology for the Future
Committee on Facilities Staffing Requirements for
Veterans Health Administration
Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment
Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences
Board on Human-Systems Integration
Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education
A Consensus Study Report of
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, DC
www.nap.edu
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This activity was supported by contracts between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or agency that provided support for the project.
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-49291-1
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-49291-2
Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/25454
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Suggested citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2020. Facilities Staffing Requirements for the Veterans Health Administration—Resource Planning and Methodology for the Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25454.
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COMMITTEE ON FACILITIES STAFFING REQUIREMENTS FOR VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
COLIN G. DRURY, University at Buffalo (Emeritus), Co-Chair
JAMES B. SMITH, U.S. Ambassador (Retired), Co-Chair
ROBERT ANSELMI, Engineering Department, Veterans Hospital Administration (Retired)
ALBERTO J. GALUÉ, Talent Acquisition and Development, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
ROBERT GOODMAN, The Innova Group, Austin, Texas
WESLEY L. HARRIS, NAE,1 Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
GENE HUBBARD, Human Capital Division, RiVidium, Inc., Manassas, Virginia
WILLIAM S. MARRAS, NAE, Department of Integrated Systems Engineering and Spine Research Institute, Ohio State University
KIMBERLY O’KEEFE, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, Department of the Army (Retired)
CHERYL PAULLIN, Talent Management and Analytics Division, Human Resources Research Organization, Alexandria, Virginia
FRED S. SWITZER III, College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences, Clemson University
BRIAN YOLITZ, Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities, Minnesota State College and University System
Staff
CAMERON C. OSKVIG, Director
DANIEL TALMAGE, Program Officer
KELLY ARRINGTON, Senior Program Assistant (until May 31, 2019)
HEATHER KREIDLER, Associate Program Officer (until July 5, 2019)
JOSEPH PALMER, Senior Program Assistant
ERIC SVEDBERG, Senior Program Officer
___________________
1 Member, National Academy of Engineering.
BOARD ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE CONSTRUCTED ENVIRONMENT
JAMES P. WHITTAKER, Facility Engineering Associates, P.C., Fairfax, Chair
WAYNE ARNY, Wayne Arny & Associates, Virginia Beach, Virginia
PATRICIA GALLOWAY, Pegasus Global Holdings, Inc., McLean, Virginia
SANJIV GOKHALE, School of Engineering, Vanderbilt University
CHRIS T. HENDRICKSON, NAE,1 Carnegie Mellon University
CHRIS POLAND, Chris D. Poland Consulting Engineer, Canyon Lake, California
Staff
CAMERON C. OSKVIG, Director
___________________
1 Member, National Academy of Engineering.
BOARD ON HUMAN-SYSTEMS INTEGRATION
PASCALE CARAYON, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Chair
JAMES BAGIAN, NAE1/NAM,2 Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
DIANA BURLEY, Graduate School of Education and Human Development, George Washington University
BARBARA DOSHER, NAS,3 School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine
MICA ENDSLEY, SA Technologies, Mesa, Arizona
EDMOND ISRAELSKI, AbbVie, North Chicago, Illinois
NAJMEDIN MESHKATI, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California
FREDERICK OSWALD, Department of Psychology, Rice University
EMILIE ROTH, Roth Cognitive Engineering, Stanford, California
WILLIAM J. STRICKLAND, Human Resources Research Organization, Alexandria, Virginia
MATTHEW WEINGER, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Staff
TOBY M. WARDEN, Director
___________________
1 Member, National Academy of Engineering.
2 Member, National Academy of Medicine.
3 Member, National Academy of Sciences.
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Preface
This report by the Committee on Facilities Staffing Requirements for Veterans Health Administration is the next piece of the project to prepare a comprehensive resource planning and staffing methodology guidebook for the Facility Management (Engineering) Programs of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The committee has held five committee meetings and five workshops so far, and one more feedback workshop is planned after the release of this report. From these activities, the committee has developed both a deep appreciation of the complexities associated with VHA Facilities Management and an understanding of its current methods of staff modeling and planning. The wide-ranging expertise brought to bear on the study challenge through the varying committee investigations has allowed the committee to evaluate existing models from potential analogues of the VHA Facility Management’s situation. An Interim Report has already been written and released to the sponsor and public. As the committee’s target organization knowledge and modeling examples converged, it has developed findings and recommendations to meet the statement of task.
We wish to express our deep appreciation to the members of the committee for their diligent and dedicated contributions to developing and participating in the multiple workshops and meetings. The diverse expertise and experience offered by the members of the committee were indispensable to the formulation of the individual sessions. We also wish to thank, on behalf of the entire committee, the staff of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, whose expertise and skill was absolutely essential to our meeting the charge from our sponsor.
Colin G. Drury and James B. Smith, Co-Chairs
Committee on Facilities Staffing Requirements for
Veterans Health Administration
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Acknowledgment of Reviewers
This Consensus Study Report was reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in making each published report as sound as possible and to ensure that it meets the institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process.
We thank the following individuals for their review of this report:
Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations of this report nor did they see the final draft before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Rear Admiral David J. Nash, NAE, Dave Nash & Associates, LLC. He was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with the standards of the National Academies and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of the report rests entirely with the authoring committee and the National Academies.
___________________
1 Member, National Academy of Engineering.
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Desirable Model Characteristics
Critical Characteristics of Input Data
Risk, Benchmarks, and a Caution About Metrics
4 VHA FACILITIES MANAGEMENT (ENGINEERING) STAFFING METHODOLOGY
Linking VHA Facilities Management (Engineering) Staffing with Target Levels of Performance
Defining Target Performance Levels for VHA Facilities Management (Engineering)
Analyzing Links Between VHA Facilities Management (Engineering) Staffing and Performance
Facilities Management (Engineering) Functions Included in the Staffing Methodology
Levels at Which the Staffing Methodology Should Be Built and Applied
Establishing Baseline Facility Management (Engineering) Staffing Requirements
Incorporating Infrastructure Complexity Parameters into a Baseline Staffing Model
Parameters That Could Be Considered in the VHA Engineering Staffing Model
Notional Application of the VHA Facilities Management (Engineering) Staffing Methadology
Estimating the Number of Facilities Management (Engineering) FTEs Needed at the VAMC Level
Estimating a Staffing Budget Request at the VAMC Level
Permanent Chief Engineer Facility Advisory Council
Subject-Matter Expert Task Force
Phase 1: Design of “Initial Model” (12 Months)
Phase 2: Coordinated Verification of Initial Model (6 Months)
Phase 3: Coordinated Working Model Independent Entity Verification (12 Months) and Validation
Implementation Process and Sustainment Cycle
Organizational Support and Leadership Commitment
Synchronizing Implementation and Sustainment with the Budget Cycle
VHA Facilities Management (Engineering) Staff Investment
Labor Relations—Union Considerations
Data Collection, Accuracy, and Analytics
Integration in Strategic and Interdisciplinary Planning
Leveraging Big Data, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence
A Committee Meeting and Workshop Agendas
B Committee Biographical Information
C Nature of Veterans Health Administration Facilities Management (Engineering) Tasks and Staffing
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Acronyms
| A/E | architects and engineers |
| AHRQ | Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality |
| AI | artificial intelligence |
| APPA | APPA (formerly Association of Physical Plant Administrators) |
| ASHE | American Society of Healthcare Engineering |
| ASHRAE | American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers |
| ASI | Aviation Safety Inspectors |
| ATSS | Airway Transportation Systems Specialists |
| BDA | big data analytics |
| BIM | building information modeling |
| BV | best value |
| CAI | Capital Asset Inventory |
| CAPRES | Capital Resource Survey |
| CARES | Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services |
| CBOC | community-based outpatient clinic(s) |
| CD | construction document |
| CEFAC | Chief Engineer Facility Advisory Council |
| CI | condition index |
| CM | construction manager |
| CMMS | computerized maintenance management systems |
| CMS | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services |
| CP | Capital Project(s) |
| DD | design development |
| DM | deferred maintenance |
| DoD | Department of Defense |
| DOE | Department of Energy |
| EA | Engineering Administration |
| EOC | Environment of Care |
| EPA | Environmental Protection Agency |
| FAA | Federal Aviation Administration |
| FCA | facility condition assessment(s) |
| FCI | facility condition index |
| FM | Facility/ies Management |
| FTE | full-time equivalent |
| FTEE | full-time equivalent employee |
| FY | fiscal year |
| GAO | Government Accountability Office |
| GMP | guaranteed maximum price |
| GSA | General Services Administration |
| GSF | gross square feet |
| HCFC | Health Care Facilities Code |
| HHS | Department of Health and Human Services |
| HQ | Headquarters |
| HVAC | heating, ventilation, and air conditioning |
| ICU | intensive care unit |
| IDIQ | indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity |
| IFB | invitation for bid |
| IFMA | International Facilities Management Association |
| IG | Inspector General |
| IoT | Internet of Things |
| ISO | International Organization for Standardization |
| IWMS | integrated workplace management system |
| JOC | job order contract |
| KPI | key performance indicator |
| KSAO | knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics |
| LSC | Life Safety Code |
| ML | machine learning |
| NASA | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| NDMS | National Disaster Medical System |
| NFPA | National Fire Protection Association |
| NRM | nonrecurring maintenance |
| NTP | notice to proceed |
| O&M | Operations and Maintenance |
| OACSIM | Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management |
| OCAMES | Office of Capital Asset Management, Engineering, and Support |
| OI&T | Office of Information and Technology |
| OPES | Office of Productivity, Efficiency, and Staffing |
| OPM | Office of Personnel Management |
| OSHA | Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
| PMTS | Predetermimed motion-time system |
| RFB | request for bid |
| RFI | requirement for improvement |
| RiTMS | Risk Identification, Triage, Mitigation, and Sustainment |
| SCIP | Strategic Capital Investment Planning |
| SD | schematic design |
| SME | subject matter expert |
| TCO | total cost of ownership |
| TF | task force |
| USAF | U.S. Air Force |
| VA | Veterans Affairs |
| VAMC | Veterans Administration Medical Center |
| VAST | VA Site Tracking Database |
| VCP | Veterans Choice Program |
| VERA | Veteran’s Equitable Resource Allocation Methodology |
| VHA | Veterans Health Administration |
| VISN | Veterans Integrated Services Network |
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