VA Announces $26 Million Construction Contract for Palo Alto

New Facility to Centralize Acute Psychiatric Care

WASHINGTON — July 15 — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the award of a $26 million contract to a San Francisco firm to construct a new 80-bed acute psychiatric facility at VA’s Palo Alto Health Care System.

“Not all the wounds of war are visible,” said Dr. Gerald Cross, VA’s Acting Under Secretary for Health. “This new facility will ensure the Veterans of central California receive 21st century care for their mental health needs.”

The contract provides nearly $26 million to McCarthy Building Companies Inc. to replace an old, seismically unsafe building at Palo Alto. The 70,000-square-foot facility also will care for acute psychiatry patients now treated at VA’s Menlo Park campus.

Last year, VA spent nearly $7.3 billion in California on behalf of the state’s 2 million Veterans. VA operates 10 major medical centers in the state, 50 outpatient clinics, 22 Vet Centers and eight national cemeteries.

SOURCE Department of Veterans Affairs