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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 June 2015

July 28, 2015

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today his office approved 1,887 contracts valued at $12.3 billion and approved nearly 1.3 million payments worth approximately $11.8 billion in June. His office also rejected 170 contracts and related transactions valued at $356 million and more than 2,000 payments valued at more than $7.3 million due to fraud, waste or other improprieties.

Cumulatively through June for calendar year 2015, DiNapoli’s office has approved approximately 10,240 contracts valued at nearly $135 billion and approved more than 14.3 million payments worth more than $69.7 billion. His office has also rejected 1,071 contracts and related transactions valued at $2.9 billion and approximately 24,000 payments valued at $59.1 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 six days for contract reviews in June and two days to audit payments.

DiNapoli releases this monthly notice to provide current information about the number and types of contracts and payments made 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, have been updated and are posted in the Comptroller's reading room. This information is updated quarterly.

Major Contracts Approved

Attorney General
  • $1.5 million contract with New York State Industries for the Disabled for data imaging and document destruction services.
Department of Civil Service
  • $85 million contract amendment with ValueOptions Inc. for mental health and substance abuse services for state and local government employees.
NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
  • $52.8 million with Erie County Medical Center Corporation for inmate health services.
  • $40 million with Bio-Reference Laboratories for medical laboratory services.
  • $5.5 million for 10 contracts for commissary items at Auburn Correctional Facility.
  • $3.5 million with Kalos Inc. for software development and maintenance for pharmaceutical administration.
  • $2.6 million for 13 contracts for commissary items at Mohawk Correctional Facility.
Gaming Commission
  • $1.5 million contract amendment with Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP for gaming advisory services for the review of Southern Tier casino license applicants.
Office of General Services for the Department of Transportation
  • $49 million for 17 contracts for vendor-placed hot mix asphalt, including $13.7 million with Hanson Aggregates, $5.5 million with Callanan Industries, and $5.5 million with Barrett Paving Materials.
  • $12.7 million for six contracts for liquid bituminous materials, including $5.6 million with Suit-Kote Corp., $2.8 million with Peckham Road Corp., and $2.3 million with Midland Asphalt Materials.
Health Department
  • $8.2 billion with Health Insurance of Greater New York for comprehensive health services to Medicaid and/or Family Health Plus beneficiaries.
  • $1.8 billion with VNS Choice for comprehensive health services to Medicaid and/or Family Health Plus beneficiaries.
  • $109 million contract extension with Mead Johnson and Company for WIC infant formula rebate.
  • $31.5 million with KPMG, LLP for Health Care Reform Act performance audits.
New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (Javits Center)
  • $17.5 million renewal of revenue-generating contract with Service America Corporation for food and beverage concession.
Taxation and Finance
  • $1.4 million for 11 contracts with David R. Maltz & Co., Spandco Inc., Mel Manasse & Son Auctioneers, and Bontrager Real Estate and Auction for the storage and auction of seized vehicles and businesses.
Thruway Authority
  • $2.5 million with Oakgrove Construction Inc. for miscellaneous pavement repairs and resurfacing at various locations on I-90, Buffalo Division.
  • $1.9 million with Villager Construction Inc. for miscellaneous pavement repairs and resurfacing, various locations, Syracuse Division.
Department of Transportation
  • $18.5 million with Rifenburg Construction Inc. for NYS Rte. 85 pavement rehabilitation and reconstruction in the city of Albany.
  • $5.6 million with Rifenburg Construction Inc. for pavement preventive and protective maintenance in Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, and Washington counties.
  • $3.2 million with Peckham Road Corp. for pavement rehabilitation on Rte. 30 in the towns of Wells and Hope, Hamilton County.
  • $2.4 million with Lake Shore Paving Inc. for road resurfacing for Rte. 60 in the town of Kiantone and city of Jamestown.
  • $2.2 million with Accent Stripe Inc. for pavement marking in Monroe, Ontario, and Wayne counties.
  • $2.2 million with Sealand Contractors Corp. for pavement maintenance in Allegany, Ontario, Schuyler, Steuben, and Yates counties.
  • $1.6 million with Bothar Construction LLC for asphalt concrete resurfacing on Rte. 144 in Elmira, Chemung County.
State University of New York
  • $350 million for SUNY Binghamton with Sodexo Management Inc. for campus food and beverage services. Net revenue to SUNY is estimated at $100 million.
  • $430,000 for the University at Albany Foundation for purchase of 423 State St., Albany, for the chancellor’s residence.

Major Payments Approved

Tax Refunds
  • $247.4 million for 177,000 personal income tax refunds.
  • $170.3 million for 41,000 corporate and other refunds.
  • $25,000 for 157 property tax freeze credits.
Division of Criminal Justice
  • $1.95 million to NYC for traffic and criminal software.
Department of Economic Development
  • $256,000 to Western New York Technology Development, $256,000 to Long Island Forum for Technology Inc., and $162,000 to Central New York Technology Development Organization to increase the competitiveness of New York companies through Regional Technology Development Centers.
Department of Environmental Conservation
  • $2.1 million to Buffalo Sewer Authority for water quality improvements.
  • $676,000 to Rifenburg Construction Inc. to rehabilitate the Lake George Beach parking lot.
State Education Department
  • $2.5 million to NCS Pearson Inc. to develop state assessments.
  • $643,000 to Common Core Inc. to develop New York State Common Core learning standards.
New York State Gaming Commission
  • $775,000 to Morrisville Auxiliary Corporation at Morrisville State College for equine drug testing.
Department of Health
  • $49.8 million to ten companies for Child Health Plus insurance.
New York State Legislature – Assembly
  • $227,000 to Hogan Lovells US LLP to defend the Assembly in pending sexual harassment litigation.
  • $23,000 to Rossein Associates for outside counsel related to sexual harassment policy development and investigations.
  • $3,000 to Roemer Wallens Gold & Mineaux LLP for outside counsel for independent sexual harassment investigations.
  • $3,000 to Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP for outside counsel for the appeals process in the matter of Assemblyman Micah Kellner.
New York State Legislature – Senate
  • $381,000 to O’Connell & Aronowitz PC for legal fees related to the defense of former state Senator Joseph Bruno.
Department of Motor Vehicles
  • $322,000 to Cable TV Association of NY Inc. for highway safety.
Department of Transportation
  • $5.7 million to Rifenburg Construction Inc. for various construction projects.
State University of New York
  • $112,000 to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to pay a fine for SUNY Downstate Medical Center’s improper disposal of lab waste.
New York State Urban Development Corporation
  • $12 million to Empire State Development Corporation for Fort Schuyler Management Corporation to establish the Buffalo High-Tech Manufacturing Innovation Hub at RiverBend Park.
Local Government Assistance
  • $359.2 million to12 cities for the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) Program.
  • $29.3 million to various cities, towns, villages, and counties for video lottery terminal payments.

Payment Rejections and Other Cost Recoveries

The Comptroller’s rejection of more than 2,000 payments valued at more than $7.3 million included nearly 600 tax refunds valued at nearly $1.2 million. DiNapoli’s auditors also recovered nearly $71,000 from vendors owing debts to the state, and held payments of more than $494,000 pending resolution of disputes between subcontractors and prime contractors.

Open Book New York

For access to billions of dollars in state and local government spending and nearly 50,000 state contracts, visit http://www.openbooknewyork.com/. The easy-to-use website was created by Comptroller DiNapoli to promote openness in government and provide taxpayers with better access to the financial workings of government.