[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33027-33028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14142]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Advisory 
Committee on Structural Safety of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
Facilities

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of 
Construction and Facilities Management, is seeking nominations of 
qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the Advisory 
Committee on Structural Safety of Department Facilities (``the 
Committee''). In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 8105, the Committee advises 
the Secretary on all matters of structural safety in the construction 
and altering of medical facilities and recommends standards for use by 
VA in the construction and alteration of facilities. Nominations of 
qualified candidates are being sought to fill current and upcoming 
vacancies on the Committee.

    Authority: The Committee was established in accordance with 38 
U.S.C. 8105.

DATES: Nominations for membership on the Committee must be received no 
later than 5:00 p.m. EST on June 26, 2015.

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be submitted to Mr. Juan Archilla by 
email at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Juan Archilla, Office of 
Construction and Facilities Management (CFM), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, via email at [email protected], or via telephone at (202) 
632-5967. A copy of the Committee charter and list of the current 
membership can be obtained by contacting Mr. Archilla or by accessing 
the Web site: http://www.va.gov/ADVISORY/
Advisory_Committee_on_Structural_Safety_of_Department_of_

[[Page 33028]]

Veterans_Affairs_facilities_Statutory.asp.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee was established pursuant to 38 
U.S.C. 8105. The Committee responsibilities include:
    (1) Providing advice to the Secretary of VA on all matters of 
structural safety in the construction and altering of medical 
facilities and recommending standards for use by VA in the construction 
and alteration of facilities.
    (2) Reviewing of appropriate State and local laws, ordinances, 
building codes, climatic and seismic conditions, relevant existing 
information, and current research.
    (3) Recommending changes to the current VA standards for structural 
safety, on a state or regional basis.
    (4) Recommending the engagement of the services of other experts or 
consultants to assist in preparing reports on present knowledge in 
specific technical areas.
    (5) Reviewing of questions regarding the application of codes and 
standards and making recommendations regarding new and existing 
facilities when requested to do so by VA.
    Membership Criteria and Professional Qualifications:
    CFM is requesting nominations for current and upcoming vacancies on 
the Committee. The Committee is composed of five members, in addition 
to ex-officio members. The Committee is required to include at least 
one architect and one structural engineer who are experts in structural 
resistance to fire, earthquake, and other natural disasters and who are 
not employees of the Federal Government. To satisfy this requirement 
and ensure the Committee has the expertise to fulfill its statutory 
objectives, VA seeks nominees from the following professions:
    (1) ARCHITECT: Candidate must be a licensed Architect experienced 
in the design requirements of health care facilities. Expert knowledge 
in codes and standards for health care and life safety is required;
    (2) PRACTICING STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Candidate must have experience 
in both new building seismic analysis and design and strengthening of 
existing buildings in high seismic regions. Expert knowledge of 
building codes and standards, with a focus on seismic safety, is 
required. Experience designing for structural resistance to other 
natural disasters is desired. A licensed Structural Engineer or 
Professional Engineer with a focus on structural engineering is 
required;
    (3) RESEARCH STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Candidate must have experience 
leading experimental and/or computational research in the field of 
structural engineering to advance building structural performance and/
or design methods against natural disasters, such as earthquakes, fire, 
hurricanes, tornados, etc.;
    (4) GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER: Candidate must be an expert in 
earthquake geotechnical engineering and foundation engineering, with 
experience in the topics of liquefaction, earthquake ground motions, 
soil-structure interaction, and soil improvement. A practicing, 
licensed Professional Engineer with a focus on geotechnical engineering 
is required; and
    (5) FIRE SAFETY ENGINEER: Candidate must be an expert in fire 
protection engineering and building codes and standards, in particular 
related to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). A 
practicing, licensed Professional Engineer with expert knowledge in 
fire protection systems and experience with life safety requirements is 
required.
    Prior experience serving on nationally recognized professional and 
technical committees is also desired.
    Requirements for Nomination Submission:
    Nominations should be type written (one nomination per nominator). 
Nomination package should include: (1) A letter of nomination that 
clearly states the name and affiliation of the nominee, the basis for 
the nomination (i.e. specific attributes which qualify the nominee for 
service in this capacity), and a statement from the nominee indicating 
a willingness to serve as a member of the Committee; (2) the nominee's 
contact information, including name, mailing address, telephone 
numbers, and email address; (3) the nominee's curriculum vitae, and (4) 
a summary of the nominee's experience and qualification relative to the 
professional qualifications criteria listed above.

Membership Terms

    Individuals selected for appointment to the Committee shall be 
invited to serve a two-year term. At the Secretary's discretion, 
members may be reappointed to serve an additional term. All members 
will receive travel expenses and a per diem allowance in accordance 
with the Federal Travel Regulation for any travel made in connection 
with their duties as members of the Committee.
    The Department makes every effort to ensure that the membership of 
its Federal advisory committees is fairly balanced in terms of points 
of view represented and the committee's function. Every effort is made 
to ensure that a broad representation of geographic areas, gender, 
racial and ethnic minority groups, and the disabled are given 
consideration for membership. Appointment to this Committee shall be 
made without discrimination because of a person's race, color, 
religion, sex (including gender identity, transgender status, sexual 
orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, or 
genetic information. Nominations must state that the nominee is willing 
to serve as a member of the Committee and appears to have no conflict 
of interest that would preclude membership. An ethics review is 
conducted for each selected nominee.

    Dated: June 5, 2015.
Jelessa Burney,
Federal Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-14142 Filed 6-9-15; 8:45 am]
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