text: SECTION 1. PILOT PROGRAM FOR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS TO CONSTRUCT NEW 
                FACILITIES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
  
      (a) Program Authorized.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
          carry out a program under which the Secretary may enter into 
          not more than five partnership agreements with entities 
          described in paragraph (2) to conduct one or more--
                      (A) super construction projects (as defined in 
                  section 8103(e)(3) of title 38, United States Code);
                      (B) major medical facility projects (as defined in 
                  section 8104(a)(3) of title 38, United States Code); or
                      (C) major construction projects to construct new 
                  cemeteries or to develop additional gravesites or 
                  columbarium niches at existing cemeteries.
              (2) Entities described.--Entities described in this 
          paragraph are the following:
                      (A) A State or local authority.
                      (B) An organization that is described in section 
                  501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is 
                  exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.
                      (C) A limited liability corporation.
                      (D) A private entity.
                      (E) A donor or donor group.
                      (F) Any other non-Federal Government entity.
      (b) Application of Certain Laws.--The authority under this section 
  may be carried out notwithstanding any other provision of law 
  (including section 8103(e) of title 38, United States Code), except 
  for--
              (1) Federal laws relating to environmental and historic 
          preservation; and
              (2) subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States 
          Code (commonly referred to as the ``Davis-Bacon Act'').
      (c) Selection of Projects.--
              (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
          projects that the Secretary may select for the program are 
          projects for which--
                      (A)(i) Congress has appropriated partial funding 
                  for the project; or
                      (ii) The Department of Veterans Affairs has 
                  identified a need for the project through its long-
                  range capital planning process by listing the project 
                  on the Major Construction Strategic Capital Investment 
                  Planning priority list included in the budget submitted 
                  to Congress by the President pursuant to section 
                  1105(a) of title 31, United States Code; and
                      (B) an entity described in subsection (a)(2) has 
                  entered into or is willing to enter into a formal 
                  agreement with the Secretary to independently finance 
                  or donate amounts for the project, in an amount 
                  acceptable and at no additional cost to the Federal 
                  Government.
              (2) Selected construction project.--
                      (A) In general.--One of the five partnership 
                  agreements that the Secretary is authorized to enter 
                  into under subsection (a) is a partnership agreement to 
                  conduct a project to design, finance, and construct a 
                  new ambulatory care center in Omaha, Nebraska.
                      (B) Space and parking.--The project described in 
                  subparagraph (A) shall include space and parking as 
                  determined necessary by the Secretary.
                      (C) Contribution of funds.--The Secretary may 
                  contribute funds for the project described in 
                  subparagraph (A) in an amount not to exceed 
                  $56,000,000, and in no event shall the contribution or 
                  liability of the Secretary exceed such amount except to 
                  the extent that additional funds are appropriated for 
                  the project.
      (d) Requirements of Entities.--
              (1) Agreements.--Each partnership agreement entered into 
          under subsection (a) with an entity described in paragraph (2) 
          of that subsection for the conduct of a project under this 
          section shall provide for the following:
                      (A) The entity shall conduct any necessary 
                  environmental and historic preservation due diligence, 
                  comply with local zoning requirements (except for 
                  studies and consultations required of the Department 
                  under Federal law), and obtain any permits required 
                  before beginning construction in connection with the 
                  project.
                      (B) The entity shall use construction standards 
                  required of the Department when designing and building 
                  the project, except to the extent the Secretary 
                  determines otherwise.
                      (C) The entity shall establish a Board of Directors 
                  described in paragraph (2) to oversee the conduct of 
                  the project (in this section referred to as the 
                  ``Board'').
              (2) Board of directors.--
                      (A) Composition.--
                              (i) In general.--The Board shall be 
                          comprised of not fewer than 5 and not more than 
                          10 members as follows:
                                      (I) Not fewer than one member shall 
                                  be a veteran who is not an employee of 
                                  the Department.
                                      (II) Not fewer than one member 
                                  shall be an employee of the Department 
                                  and function as a nonvoting member of 
                                  the Board.
                              (ii) Chair.--The Board shall designate a 
                          Chair from among the members of the Board to 
                          oversee the activities of the Board.
                              (iii) Conflicts.--All current or proposed 
                          members of the Board shall promptly disclose 
                          any actual or potential conflicts to the 
                          Secretary and must agree as a condition of 
                          their appointment to the Board to remove 
                          themselves from membership on the Board if the 
                          Chair and Secretary jointly agree that doing so 
                          is appropriate due to an actual or potential 
                          conflict.
                      (B) Charter.--Not later than 180 days after 
                  inception, or such other timeframe as the Secretary may 
                  approve, the Board shall establish a written charter to 
                  describe the roles, responsibilities, policies, and 
                  procedures of operation of the Board to ensure 
                  successful project management, design, and 
                  construction, and completion of the designated project.
                      (C) Duties.--
                              (i) In general.--The Board shall be 
                          responsible for overseeing the activities 
                          needed to finance, design, and construct the 
                          designated project for the Department.
                              (ii) Updates.--The Board shall submit to 
                          the Secretary written updates regarding the 
                          status of the designated project at such time 
                          and in such manner as the Secretary shall 
                          specify.
                      (D) Defense to department.--The Board shall defer 
                  to the Secretary on all matters that are inherent to 
                  the mission and operations of the Department, including 
                  conditional or final acceptance of the designated 
                  project.
                      (E) Dissolution.--The Board may not dissolve until 
                  after the Secretary has provided final acceptance of 
                  the completion of the designated project to the Board, 
                  plus such additional time or contingencies as the Board 
                  and the Secretary may jointly approve.
      (e) Project Funds.--
              (1) From department.--
                      (A) In general.--Except as provided in subsection 
                  (c)(2), and except to the extent that additional funds 
                  are appropriated for a project, the Secretary may 
                  provide funds to help finance, design, and construct 
                  the project in an amount not to exceed the total amount 
                  appropriated for the project at the time of the 
                  partnership agreement under subsection (a) between the 
                  Department and the entity described in subsection 
                  (a)(2) that is conducting the project.
                      (B) Terms and conditions.--The Secretary shall 
                  provide funds pursuant to subparagraph (A) under such 
                  terms, conditions, and schedule as the Secretary 
                  determines appropriate.
              (2) From entity.--The entity described in subsection (a)(2) 
          that is conducting the project shall be required to contribute 
          all funds in addition to the funds provided under paragraph (1) 
          that are needed to complete the project.
      (f) Application.--To be eligible to participate in the program 
  under this section, entities described in subsection (a)(2) shall 
  submit to the Secretary an application to address needs relating to 
  facilities of the Department, including health care needs, identified 
  in the Construction and Long-Range Capital Plan of the Department, at 
  such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
  Secretary may require, including the following:
              (1) The name, resume, and description of the experience of 
          the project manager for each project that the entity is 
          proposing to pursue with the Secretary under the program.
              (2) A description of the proposed monetary and non-monetary 
          contributions of the entity for the project, and how future 
          funding will be secured.
              (3) A description of the process the entity would use to 
          select a third-party contractor or developer, as applicable, to 
          perform the work necessary to complete the project.
              (4) A description of the Board and project management plan 
          that the entity will use, to ensure concise and consistent 
          communication between all parties involved in the project.
              (5) A description of the procedures that the entity will 
          use to review, monitor, and process change orders when 
          received, including how input and feedback by the Department 
          will be incorporated, particularly for issues that would affect 
          the time or cost of the project.
              (6) A detailed estimate of the costs to complete the 
          project.
              (7) A description of the estimated timeline for completion 
          of the project and milestones associated with the activities 
          needed to finance, design, and construct the project.
              (8) An agreement to obtain an independent annual financial 
          audit of all activities and costs relating to the project in 
          accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
              (9) Such other information as the Secretary may require.
      (g) Annual Report on Projects.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary shall include in the budget 
          submitted to Congress by the President pursuant to section 
          1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, information regarding 
          any projects conducted under this section during the year 
          preceding the submittal of the budget.
              (2) Elements.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
          shall provide a detailed status of projects conducted under 
          this section, including the percentage completion of the 
          project.
      (h) Comptroller General Report.--The Comptroller General of the 
  United States shall submit to Congress a biennial report on the 
  partnership agreements entered into under the program under this 
  section.
      (i) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
  construed as a limitation on the authority of the Secretary to enter 
  into other agreements that are authorized by law and not inconsistent 
  with this section.
target: This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a program under which it may enter into up to five partnership arrangements with a state or local authority, a tax exempt non-profit corporation, a limited liability corporation, a private entity, a donor, or other non-federal entity to conduct:   super construction projects (a project for the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a medical facility involving a total expenditure of more than $100 million); major medical facility projects (a project for the construction, alteration, or acquisition of a medical facility involving a total expenditure of more than $10 million, excluding an acquisition by exchange); or  major construction projects to construct a new cemeteries or to develop additional gravesites or columbarium niches at existing cemeteries.   The VA may select projects for which: (1) Congress has appropriated partial funding or the VA has identified a need through its long-range capital planning process by listing it on the Major Construction Strategic Capital Investment Planning priority list included in the annual budget submitted to Congress by the President, and (2) a non-federal entity has entered into or is willing to enter into a formal agreement with the VA to independently finance or donate an acceptable amount of project funds at no additional cost to the federal government. One of the non-federal entity partnership agreements shall be a project to design, finance, and construct a new ambulatory care center in Omaha, Nebraska.  Each partnership agreement shall require the partner entity to:   conduct necessary environmental and historic preservation due diligence, comply with local zoning requirements, and obtain any permits required for construction; use construction standards required of the VA when designing and building the project, except to the extent the VA determines otherwise; and    establish a Board of Directors to oversee the project.  The VA shall include in the annual budget submitted to Congress by the President information regarding any projects conducted under this bill during the preceding year.
feat_title: A bill to establish a pilot program on partnership agreements to construct new facilities for the Department of Veterans Affairs.