Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Space Planning Criteria (Chapter 284)
Washington, DC 20420
February 2007
1
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
A. This document outlines Space Planning Criteria for Chapter 284: Acquisition and
Materiel Management Service Administration. It applies to all medical facilities at
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
2
DEFINITIONS
A. Concept of Operations: A user-developed guide to the functional operation of the VA
healthcare facility. It defines the function of the facility and the scope of medical or
optometric services to be provided in the new or remodeled space.
B. Departmental Net to Gross (DNTG) Conversion Factor: A parameter, determined by
the VA for each space planning criteria chapter, used to convert the programmed Net
Square Foot (NSF) area to the Department Gross Square Foot (DGSF) area. The
DNTG Departmental Conversion Factor for AMMS-Administration is 1.30.
C. Full-Time Equivalent (FTE): A staffing parameter equal to the amount of time
assigned to one full time employee. It may be composed of several part-time
employees whose total time commitment equals that of a full-time employee. One
FTE equals 40 hours per week.
D. Input Data Statement: A set of questions designed to elicit information about the
healthcare project in order to create a Program for Design (PFD) based on the
criteria parameters set forth in this document. Input Data Statements could be
Mission related, based in the project's Concept of Operations; and Workload or
Staffing related, based on projections and data provided by the VHA or the VISN
about the estimated model of operation. This information is processed through
mathematical and logical operations in SEPS.
E. Program for Design (PFD): A space program based on criteria set forth in this
document and specific information about Concept of Operations, workload
projections and staffing levels authorized.
F. SEPS (VA-SEPS): Acronym for Space and Equipment Planning System, a digital
tool developed by the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans
Affairs to generate a Program for Design (PFD) and an Equipment List for a VA
healthcare project based on specific information entered in response to Input Data
Questions. VA-SEPS incorporates the propositions set forth in all VA space planning
criteria chapters. VA-SEPS has been designed to aid healthcare planners in creating
a space plan based on a standardized set of criteria parameters.
3
OPERATING RATIONALE AND BASIS OF CRITERIA
A. Workload Projections or planned services / modalities for a specific VA medical
center, hospital or satellite outpatient clinic project are provided by the VA Central
Office (VACO) / VISN CARES Capacity Projection Model. Healthcare planners
working on VA medical center, hospital or satellite outpatient clinic projects will utilize
and apply the workload based criteria set forth herein for identified services and
modalities to determine room requirements for each facility.
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