State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today his office approved 990 contracts valued at $750 million and approved nearly 3.9 million payments worth more than $10.4 billion in April. His office also rejected 116 contracts and related transactions valued at $330 million and nearly 6,000 payments valued at more than $10.7 million due to fraud, waste or other improprieties.

Cumulatively through April for calendar year 2016, DiNapoli’s office has approved 6,282 contracts valued at $26.6 billion and approved more than 14.4 million payments worth nearly $52.7 billion. His office has also rejected 761 contracts and related transactions valued at $6.8 billion and more than 26,000 payments valued at more than $43.1 million.

As the state’s chief financial officer, DiNapoli’s office reviews contracts for all state agencies and certain 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 7.5 days for contract reviews in April 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.

Highlights for April 2016:

Legislative Travel and Per Diem Expenses

Legislative travel and per diem expenses for calendar years 2013 through the first quarter of 2016, are posted in the Comptroller's reading room. This information is updated quarterly.

Major Contracts Approved

Department of Agriculture and Markets

• $1.1 million to Cornell University for four grants: $500,000 for apple research, $392,000 for Future Farmers of America, $125,000 for maple research and $100,000 for vegetable research.

Office of Children and Family Services

• $6.5 million to the United Federation of Teachers day care programs and professional development of day care providers.

Division of Criminal Justice Services

• $835,000 in grants to counties to combat crimes such as untaxed cigarette sales and Medicaid fraud. 

Office of General Services

• $5.4 million for three contracts to upgrade perimeter security towers at Attica State prison, including $4.4 million with Burgio & Campofelice Inc.
• $1 million to replace hot water tanks and roofing at Attica State Prison, including $400,000 to Massa Construction Inc.
• $818,000 with Kubricky Construction Corp. for bridge and trail construction at Vander Whacker Mountain Wild Forest in Minerva, Essex County.
• $800,000 to renovate the Wells Bridge rest area on I-88 in Otsego County, including $509,000 with Eastman Associates Inc.
• $554,000 with Black Horse Group LLC to replace a concrete water tank at Watertown Correctional Facility in Jefferson County.

Lake George Park Commission

• $400,000 with Aquatic Invasive Management LLC to manage Eurasian watermilfoil.

Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation

• $2.9 million for four contracts to construct lakefront cottages at Sampson State Park in Seneca County, including $2.5 million with Massa Construction Inc.
• $2.3 million with Mr. Dirt Inc. to complete the Black Diamond Trail from Taughannock Falls State Park to Cass Park in Ithaca.
• $200,000 grant to the Open Space Institute for recreational trails.

Department of State

$1.3 million for three waterfront revitalization grants including $495,000 to Clinton County.

Department of Transportation

• $52.8 million with El Sol Contracting ES II Enterprises Joint Venture for Gowanus Expressway bridge repairs.
• $20.5 million with Posillico Civil Inc. for bridge replacement over Rte. 27 in Suffolk County.
• $3 million with Reale Construction Co., Inc. to repair the Rte. 11 bridge over the Chateauguay River in Franklin County.
• $700,000 in grants to Warren County for pavement preservation in the town of Queensbury.

Division of Veterans Affairs

$500,000 to the New York State Defenders Association for the Veterans Defense Program.

Major Payments Approved

Tax Refunds

• $2.4 billion for 2.1 million personal income tax refunds.
• $150.6 million for 38,000 corporate and other refunds.
• $9.3 million for 29,000 property tax freeze credits.

Dormitory Authority of the State of New York

• $43.6 million to Fort Schuyler Management Corporation to design and construct a solar panel facility at RiverBend/SolarCity in Buffalo.

Gaming Commission

• $8.9 million to 17 local governments for tribal compact payments.

Office of Children and Family Services

• $386,000 to Morpho Trust USA Inc. for fingerprinting services.

Office of General Services

• $11.4 million for hourly-based IT services, including $2.5 million to PSI International Inc., $2.1 million to IIT Inc., and $1.6 million to MVP Consulting Plus Inc.
• $63,000 to CHA Consulting Inc. for security design services.

New York State Legislature – Assembly

• $34,000 to Rossein Associates for outside counsel related to sexual harassment policy development and investigations.
• $5,000 to Roemer Wallens Gold & Mineaux LLP for outside counsel for independent investigations of sexual harassment.

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

•  $726,000 to Philip Ross Industries Inc. for sanitary system work at Belmont Lake State Park.
•  $617,000 to the city of Rochester for the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program.
•  $108,000 to JD Northrup Construction for sewer repairs at Long Point State Park.

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

•  $12.2 million in federal Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits to assist nearly 30,000 low-income New Yorkers with home heating or heat-related emergencies.
•  $492,000 to Hunger Solutions New York Inc. for nutrition outreach and education programs.

Department of Transportation

•  $83,000 to CHA Consulting Inc. for high-speed rail design.

New York State Thruway Authority

•  $43.7 million to Tappan Zee Constructors LLC for the Tappan Zee Bridge Project.
•  $1.3 million to HNTB New York Engineering & Architecture PC for Tappan Zee Bridge engineering.

Payment Rejections and Other Cost Recoveries

The Comptroller’s rejection of nearly 6,000 payments valued at more than $10.7 million included more than 2,600 tax refunds valued at nearly $4.4 million. DiNapoli’s auditors also recovered $189,000 from vendors owing debts to the state, and held payments of $137,000 pending resolution of disputes between subcontractors and prime contractors.

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 to promote transparency in government and provide taxpayers with better access to financial data.