The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is preparing for a community-based outpatient clinic in the area.

The department posted a notice online last week advising contractors of plans for the clinic in either Mower, Freeborn, Faribault or Waseca County — in a location at least 30 minutes away from an existing primary care veteran’s clinic. In the southern half of the state, these existing sites are in Mankato, Rochester and Minneapolis.

Though the government has not formally begun to solicit contractors, the post states it anticipates doing so in May. It has been more than four years since officials in Washington, D.C., announced plans for the clinic.

The facility would provide outpatient primary care for veterans along the southern border of Minnesota in a private hospital, office or clinic.

The project would be contracted out to a private organization, and the contractor would be required to have the necessary facilities, professional medical staff, diagnostic testing and treatment capability. Staff would have to be trained and certified through the VA, and any psychologists will only be staffed by the VA.

Community-based outpatient clinics offer primary health care services and mental health counseling, sometimes through video teleconferencing from the clinic to a clinician located at the medical center in Minneapolis. The clinics do not provide urgent care or emergency care.

The notice states the new clinic should have about 2,300 veteran enrollees in its first year.

To view the listing, visit www.fbo.gov.