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NEWS from the Office of the New York State Comptroller
Contact: Press Office 518-474-4015

        

DiNapoli Announces State Contract and Payment Actions for September 2015

Enhancing OSC’s Open Government Efforts

October 29, 2015

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today his office approved 2,277 contracts valued at $3.7 billion and approved 1.8 million payments worth $13.7 billion in September. His office also rejected 149 contracts and related transactions valued at $415 million and more than 600 payments valued at $3.9 million due to fraud, waste or other improprieties. This month’s high volumes occurred because contracts and payments were accelerated in order to allow an upgrade of the Statewide Financial System.

Cumulatively through September for calendar year 2015, DiNapoli’s office has approved approximately 16,000 contracts valued at nearly $142 billion and approved 23.9 million payments worth $101.2 billion. His office has also rejected 1,615 contracts and related transactions valued at $4.4 billion and 26,200 payments valued at $123.9 million.

As the state’s chief financial officer, DiNapoli’s office reviews contracts for all state agencies and certain contracts for state public authorities and audits all state payments. This independent review ensures that costs are reasonable, the playing field is level and taxpayers get the best value for their money. These independent audits also help ensure payments are free from fraud, waste and improprieties. The Comptroller’s office averaged eight days for contract reviews in September and two days to audit payments.

DiNapoli releases this monthly notice to provide current information about the number and types of contracts and payments by the state. This builds on his commitment to added transparency via his Open Book New York website.

Legislative Travel and Per Diem Expenses

Legislative travel and per diem expenses for calendar years 2013 and 2014, and year-to-date expenses for calendar 2015 through September, are posted in the Comptroller's reading room. This information is updated quarterly.

Major Contracts Approved

Department of Corrections and Community Supervision 
  • $11.9 million with the Livingston County water and sewer district for water supply to Livingston and Groveland correctional facilities.
Department of Economic Development
  • $11.2 million in grants to the State University of New York Research Foundation for the Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology ($4.4 million); the Center of Excellence in Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology ($4.4 million); and the Center of Excellence in Advanced Energy Research ($2.4 million).
  • $5 million revenue generating contract with Brand Sense Partners LLC for trademark licensing services.
State Education Department
  • $24.2 million with Erie 1 BOCES to manage the Statewide Student and Education Data Repository.
  • $7.2 million for 17 grants to commercial driving license schools for training including: $1.6 million to Commercial Driver Training Inc., and $1.1 million to National Tractor Trailer School. 
Department of Health
  • $563 million for 85 WIC grants to improve the health status of low-income women, infants and children. 
  • $113.8 million contract extension with Computer Sciences Corporation for Medicaid fiscal agent services.
Office of Indigent Legal Services
  • $5 million for seven grants to counties including $3.2 million to Nassau County. 
Office of Information Technology
  • $1.1 million with Deloitte and Touche LLP for information technology risk assessment services.
Long Island Power Authority
  • $415,000 with Iroquois Gas Transmission Service for reimbursement of pre-certification costs related to Caithness II. 
Public Service Commission
  • $1 million with Spiegel & McDiarmid LLP as outside counsel for litigation. 
Department of State – Financial Restructuring Board
  • $3.9 million grant to the city of Albany for financial restructuring activities.
State Insurance Fund
  • $5.4 million with Gilbert International, Inc. for building management and maintenance services.
Department of Transportation
  • $53.2 million for 25 contracts for fleet replacement parts including $22.1 million with SBD Holding Co. LLC; $20.3 million with Henderson Products, Inc.; and $2.7 million with Cives Corp. 

Major Payments Approved

Tax Refunds
  • $174.5 million for 73,000 personal income tax refunds.
  • $113 million for 26,000 corporate and other refunds.
  • $71,000 for 1,100 property tax freeze credits.
Department of Agriculture and Markets
  • $188,000 to New York Apple Association Inc. to promote NYS apple products.
  • $20,000 to Pinckney Hugo Group LLC for New York State Fair advertising.
Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
  • $2.5 million to Odyssey House Inc. for facility improvements.
Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
  • $1.1 million to First Transit for offender transportation.  
Unified Court System
  • $347,000 to Children’s Rights Society Inc. for law guardians and legal aid for children.
Department of Economic Development 
  • $132,000 to Center for Economic Growth for the Regional Technology Development Center Program.
State Education Department
  • $2.3 million to NCS Pearson Inc. to develop state assessments. 
  • $25,000 to South Bronx Classical Charter School II for charter school planning and implementation.
Department of Health
  • $29.4 million to Maximus Inc. and $6.2 million to Computer Sciences Corporation to assist with the state’s Health Benefit Exchange.  
  • $20.9 million to KPMG LLP for NYS Health Care Reform Act performance audits.
Office of General Services
  • $1 million to Sea Crest Construction Corp. for asbestos removal, floor slab strengthening and window replacement at Manhattan Psychiatric Center.
New York State Legislature – Assembly
  • $30,000 to Rossein Associates for outside counsel related to sexual harassment policy development and investigations.
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
  • $239,000 to Wainschaf Associates Inc. for visitor center construction at John Boyd Thacher State Park.
New York State Thruway Authority
  • $55 million to Tappan Zee Constructors LLC for the Tappan Zee River Crossing Project.
  • $1.6 million to HNTB New York Engineering & Architecture PC for the Tappan Zee Bridge project’s engineering services.
Department of Transportation
  • $1.4 million to Luck Brothers Inc. for bridge replacement on Route 11 in the town of Champlain.
  • $950,000 to the city of New York to reconstruct the Harlem River viaduct.
State University of New York
  • $400,000 to the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York for a new residence hall at SUNY Purchase College.
State University Construction Fund
  • $30.3 million to LP Ciminelli Inc. to renovate Science Building 15 and construct the School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at the State University at Buffalo.

Payment Rejections and Other Cost Recoveries

The Comptroller’s rejection of more than 600 payments valued at approximately $3.9 million included 150 tax refunds valued at nearly $2.3 million. DiNapoli’s auditors also recovered nearly $95,000 from vendors owing debts to the state, and held payments of nearly $548,000 pending resolution of disputes between subcontractors and prime contractors.

Open Book New York

For access to state and local government spending, public authority financial data and information on 50,000 state contracts, visit Open Book New York. The easy-to-use website was created by DiNapoli to promote openness in government and provide taxpayers with better access to the financial workings of government.