SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE "TRANSPORTATION AND infAAsTHUCTURE com TTEE we anaimn 6 CONGRESSMAN VERN BUCHANAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THIRTEENTH DISTRICT, FLORIDA August 30, 2010 ‘The Honorable Erie K. Shinseki Secretary US. Department of Veterans Affairs Washington, DC 20420 Dear Secretary Shinsekit | am writing to request that your Department take action to ensure the VA Cemetery in Sarasota, Florida, gets back on schedule, This process has now fallen significantly behind schedule, As a result, families of veterans in and around Sarasota are waiting to inter their loved ones at this new VA facility. ‘The $28 million phase 1B construction contract was scheduled for award in May of 2009 with a May 2011 completion date. In June of 2009, the VA put it out for bid. Over the next 14 months, a total of four (4) contractors were intially awarded the contract, only to subsequently be disqualified for failure to meet essential elements of the bid criterion, Recently, the VA cancelled the contract and decided to start the bidding process over anew. My office has been told that the VA “hopes” to have the contract awarded by November. An important part of the Phase 18 contact is the construction of a columbarium with 7,000 spaces. My office has been informed that a waiting list of veterans’ families already has more than 100 names on I. lunderstand the need to ensure that VA contracts comply with federal regulations and policies, but this | project is now more than a year behind schedule. As | represent some $7,000 veterans in Florida’s 13" Congressional District, what assurances can your Department give me that the VA cemetery In Sarasota will be put back on-time for completion? Please tell me what specific steps will be taken by the VA to. achieve this goal. ‘This is an extremely important issue for all of the veterans and their families in southwest Florida, | look forward to hearing back from you on this important issue. Up Buckhorn Vern Buchanan Member of Congress 28 Nom one Ae rattinnnemenewer — | ons) 36-218 “peta oo. "oat 747-08 | rose ane 20-028 seit ge 92 seen rao