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

DiNapoli Announces State Contract & Payment Actions for May 2014

June 23, 2013

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today his office reviewed 2,092 contracts valued at $2.3 billion and approved nearly 2.2 million payments worth $10.4 billion in May. His office also rejected 146 contracts and related transactions valued at $692 million and more than 2,700 payments valued at more than $10 million due to fraud, waste or other improprieties.

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. The independent audits ensure payments are free from fraud, waste and improprieties. The Comptroller’s office averages 11 to 13 days for contract reviews and two days to audit payments.

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

Highlights for May 2014:

Major Contracts Approved

Department of Transportation – Construction
  • $554.8 million with Skanska-Kiewit-Ecco III JV, to replace the Kosciuszko Bridge in New York City.
  • $52.2 million with Sealand Contractors Corp. to reconstruct Routes 5, 8, and 12 in Utica.
  • $14.3 million with Union Concrete & Construction Corp. to replace four I-290 bridges in Tonawanda.
Office of General Services – Construction
  • $7.1 million with Fratello Construction Corp. to create a wet lab at the NY State Psychiatric Institute, Manhattan.
  • $6.6 million with Louis C. Allegrone, Inc. to waterproof the New York State Museum’s “Grand Staircase.”
State Education Department – High School Equivalency Exams
  • $8.1 million with CTB McGraw-Hill LLC to develop paper and computer-based high school equivalency exams to replace the GED.
NYS Legislature
  • $497,000 contract with Code and Theory LLC for Senate website development.
  • $250,000 contract amendment with Hogan Lovells to defend the Assembly in pending sexual harassment litigation.
Contract Amendments
  • $222.5 million, 20-year lease renewal for CUNY at 230 West 41st St., Manhattan, with 230 West 41st Street LLC, wholly owned by the Research Foundation of CUNY.
  • $2.2 million, one-year extension to the Office of Mental Health’s contract with the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty for residential services.

Major Payments Approved

Tax Refunds
  • $659 million for more than one million personal income tax refunds, and nearly 35,000 corporate and other refunds worth $101.2 million.
Department of Transportation
  • $4.3 million to Halmar International and A. Servidone B. Anthony Construction Corp. JV for Patroon Island Bridge rehabilitation between Rensselaer and Albany.
  • $2.6 million to Oakgrove Construction Inc. to replace bridges over the New York Power Authority reservoir in Niagara County.
  • $2.4 million to National Railroad Passenger Corp. for equipment and capital expenses for Amtrak intercity passenger rail services.
New York State Assembly
  • $54,000 to Rossein Associates for sexual harassment policy development and investigations.
Moreland Commission
  • $29,000 to Cyber Search Corp. for e-discovery support services.
Department of Civil Service
  • $156.4 million to CaremarkPCS Health LLC for pharmacy benefit services for the Empire Plan, Excelsior Plan, and Student Health Plan.
Department of Health
  • $10.6 million to Maximus Inc. to assist with the state’s Health Benefit Exchange.
  • $10.4 million to Amerigroup New York LLC for Child Health Plus Insurance.
State Education Department
  • $294,000 to Core Knowledge Foundation for development of the state Common Core.
Local Government Assistance
  • $11.1 million to the Yonkers for the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) program.

Payment Rejections and Other Cost Recoveries

The Comptroller’s rejection of more than 2,700 payments valued at more than $10 million included 2,100 tax refunds valued at nearly $5 million. DiNapoli’s auditors also recovered nearly $103,000 from vendors owing debts to the state.

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.