August 26, 2009
WASHINGTON =96 Citing persistent noncompliance and numerous performance=20
deficiencies, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will not exercise=20
the third year of a five-year, $75 million contract with the University=20
of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC) to perform research into=20
Gulf War Veterans=92 Illnesses (GWVI).
=93Research into the illnesses suffered by Gulf War Veterans remains a=20
priority for VA,=94 said Dr. Gerald M. Cross, VA=92s Acting Under Secreta=
ry=20
for Health. =93As part of our commitment to this vital effort, we must=20
make certain that our resources are used to support effective and=20
productive research.=94
VA listed several reasons for not exercising the contract option,=20
including UTSWMC=92s persistent and continuing noncompliance with contrac=
t=20
terms and conditions and detailed documentation by the contracting=20
officer of performance deficiencies. VA also noted that its Office of=20
Inspector General documented severe performance deficiencies in a July=20
15 report and recommended that no further task orders be issued under=20
the contract.
VA will meet with UTSWMC contract staff on today to provide guidance for=20
completing work in progress and submitting adequate documentation to=20
allow payment. UTSWMC will be allowed to fulfill task orders already in=20
progress if it corrects all performance deficiencies. .
The decision not to continue the contract means VA=92s research program=20
will be able to redirect funds to support additional research into GWVI.=20
In 2010, that research will include a genomic study to identify=20
susceptibility factors and markers of GWVI; studies of similarities and=20
differences with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia; studies of=20
new diagnostic tests; identification of sub-populations of ill Gulf War=20
Veterans; and studies of potential new treatments.
The redirected funding for these new VA research initiatives will be in=20
addition to the substantial support VA already provides for GWVI=20
research--$7 million in 2008 and $4.8 million so far in 2009.
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