The Office of Disaster Recovery (ODR), in collaboration with the Virgin Islands Department of Health (DOH), has executed a contract with Consigli/Benton Joint Venture 1 to begin construction of the new Morris F. DeCastro Clinic on St. John.
The $938,300 contract covers the preconstruction phase, which includes finalizing designs, conducting constructability reviews, and performing value engineering.
“The awarding of this contract marks an important step forward in the long-awaited reconstruction of the Morris F. DeCastro Clinic. It is a clear sign that this vital project is moving ahead, bringing us closer to a modern, resilient facility that will serve the people of St. John for generations to come. We are excited to see this progress and remain committed to ensuring that our health care teams and the communities we serve have the resources and facilities they deserve,” said DOH Commissioner Justa Encarnacion.
The preconstruction phase is expected to take about eight months. Once the new designs are complete, a notice to proceed (NTP) for the construction phase will be issued. This contract framework, based on Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) standards, promotes a streamlined process to meet the project schedule, ensure satisfactory performance, and avoid delays. Once the design and permits are in place, demolition and construction should take approximately 21 months.
ODR Director Adrienne L. Williams-Octalien explained the significance of this award, “reconstructing the Morris F. DeCastro Clinic into a state-of-the-art healthcare facility on St. John is a necessity, as it is one of only two healthcare facilities on the island. Starting and completing this project is essential to ensure residents, Virgin Islanders, and visitors have access to modern, quality healthcare. We are thankful for the continued cooperation of our federal partner, FEMA, which awarded the territory $17.5 million in 2023.”
The Morris F. DeCastro Clinic was a part of the St. John mixed-sector bundle. It joins other recent awards for Department of Health projects under the Rebuild USVI initiative.
The Virgin Islands Office of Disaster Recovery remains committed to supporting the residents of the Virgin Islands through recovery and reconstruction efforts, ensuring a resilient and sustainable future for the Territory.
