Summary

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed whether the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) contracting delays had any impoundment implications under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. GAO noted that: (1) VA did not award a construction document or construction contract for nine major construction projects by September 30, 1995; (2) VA should have reported one additional project as delayed; (3) these contracting delays do not constitute impoundments of VA budget authority; (4) contracting delays are caused by changes in the scope or design of the project and the funding of projects before design completion; and (5) VA made one contract award after September 30, 1995 and expects to make two additional awards by September 30, 1996.