VA BIM Guide v1.0  

Date: 
04-01-2010
Status: 
Archive (Canceled)

VA’s Office of Construction and Facilities Management (CFM) has determined that Building Information Modeling (BIM) represents both an enhanced technology and a process change for the architecture-engineering-construction-facilities management industry. VA is committed to moving both the organization and its service providers to BIM as effectively and efficiently as possible, and to integrating BIM process requirements and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) methodologies into its delivery requirements.

The goal of CFM’s conversion to BIM is to deliver higher value and maximize lifecycle building performance to support VA’s mission to deliver excellent medical services. Just as the VA’s digitization of patient records has greatly improved the business and management process of care delivery for patients, so the digitization of building data will improve the design and management of VA buildings across their lifecycles—from concept to design to construction to operations to reuse and eventual demolition. And, just as standardized data in electronic medical records helps VA find ways to improve patient care, so standardized building data available electronically across VA will help the agency find better ways to design and manage its facilities in the future.

To achieve this vision, VA issued instructions that Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)-compliant BIM authoring tools be used as the architectural/engineering software for all major construction and renovation projects (capital projects appropriated at over $10M) starting design in FY 2009. This guidance shall apply to design and construction by the architects, engineers, other consultants, and contractors hired for those projects by VA. VA’s Minor Program shall actively support and encourage the use of BIM where practicable, taking into account the size, type of project, and the availability of the BIM skill sets that are needed to accomplish the project.

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