CENTER TWP — The township supervisors Wednesday night said they remain in the dark about a work stoppage on the proposed U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care center on North Duffy Road.

But supervisors said the township has the ability to fully support the center with all the utilities should the project go forward.

“We still believe that the development of a new VA facility within Center Township, specifically the location known as the Herold Farm, is feasible and would be a benefit for all citizens in the region, including those in Center Township,” Supervisor Ken Frenchak said in a statement.

Frenchak said he was responding to Butler Township officials, who in newspaper reports said the site in Center Township does not have the utilities needed for the center.

“While infrastructure is not presently located on the site, access to, and the ability to supply and develop the needed points are readily available,” Frenchak said, citing water, sewage, power, gas and transportation as the services in question.

Frenchak said the proposed development falls in line with the township’s comprehensive plan.

Frenchak said the supervisors are not in a battle with any other municipality on the issue, but said he wanted to clarify that the township can support the development.

“We understand why other townships may be discouraged with the newest developments surrounding the project, but Center Township remains confident that the (VA) will do the right thing and allow the site developer to move forward at the Center Township location,” Frenchak said.

While the township said it supports the development, the supervisors said they know little about the stop work order placed on the project due to a protest that was filed with the U.S. Government Accountability Office by an unsuccessful bidder.

“We’ve heard nothing,” said Chairman Ed Latuska, who added that township officials have not spoken with the developer since learning Friday about the protest.

The stop work order doesn’t mean the contract is canceled, only that it is on hold for review of the protest

Cambridge Healthcare Solutions PA received a contract Dec. 31 from the VA to build the 168,000 square-foot center on North Duffy Road.

The center was selected for that site out of four considered locations, including two in Butler Township.

It’s the second time work has been stopped on the proposed project.

The VA canceled its first $75 million lease with Westar Development of Akron, Ohio, in August 2013. That developer was to build the center adjacent to the existing VA campus at the Deshon Woods site between New Castle Road and Route 68 in Butler Township.

However, the VA claimed the developer misrepresented itself during the bidding process. An official with the company also was sentenced on federal charges of fraud unrelated to the Butler project.

The Deshon Woods site was again considered by the VA with a different developer.

The Oxford Development Co. told Butler Township Commissioners in September it reached a deal to buy the 15.9-acre property where it wanted to build the new center.

Oxford on Jan. 26 filed a bid protest against the VA, according to the Government Accountability Office dockets.

A decision on the case is expected May 6.

The new center will expand VA Butler Healthcare’s outpatient services and will include primary care, specialty care, dental, lab, pathology, radiology, mental health, and ancillary and diagnostic services.