State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today his office approved 1,875 contracts valued at $15.15 billion and approved 2.1 million payments worth $11.3 billion in December. His office also rejected 227 contracts and related transactions valued at approximately $500 million and 600 payments valued at $2.2 million due to fraud, waste or other improprieties.

In total for calendar year 2015, DiNapoli’s office approved approximately 19,500 contracts valued at nearly $158.4 billion and approved 29.5 million payments worth $127.3 billion. His office also rejected 2,055 contracts and related transactions totaling $5.4 billion and 34,700 payments totaling $133.4 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. OSC averaged nine days for contract reviews in December 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 2015 are now posted in the Comptroller's reading room. This information is updated quarterly and prior years are available.

Major Contracts Approved

Department of Agriculture and Markets

• $5 million with Total Wrecking and Environmental LLC for site improvements at the New York State Fair.

Department of Civil Service

• $4.6 billion for eight health maintenance organization contracts for eligible state and local employees under the NYS Health Insurance Program.

Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

• $111.6 million for inmate healthcare services at Albany Medical Center.

Office of General Services

• $17.6 million to rehabilitate the kitchen and mess hall at Fishkill Correctional Facility.

Department of Health

• $9.1 billion for 11 Essential Plan managed care agreements under the Basic Health Program, including $3.2 billion to Healthfirst PHSP, Inc., $1.5 billion to MetroPlus Health Plan, $1.2 billion to United Healthcare, and $1.1 billion to Affinity Health Plan.

Interest on Lawyer Account Fund of NYS

• $31.2 million for 43 contracts for IOLA's Civil Legal Services Grant Program.

New York State Legislature – Assembly

• $75,000 one-year extension with Roemer Wallens Gold & Mineaux for independent sexual harassment investigations.

New York State Legislature – Senate

• $210,000 with Cuti Hecker Wang LLC for legal services related to the 2012 legislative redistricting process.

Office of the Medicaid Inspector General

• $25 million with Health Management Systems, Inc. for identification and recovery of improper payments for claims paid under the Medicaid program.

Department of Motor Vehicles

• $11.3 million for 41 Highway Safety Grant Program contracts to support state and local efforts to improve highway safety.

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

• $3.2 million for bathhouse renovations at Jones Beach State Park.
• $1.3 million with the village of Trumansburg for operation and maintenance of water facilities at the Taughannock Falls State Park.

Department of Transportation

• $16 million to Harrison & Burrows Bridge Constructors to replace six bridges.
• $14.6 million to El Sol Contracting & Construction Corp. for rehabilitation of the 118th St. Bridge over Grand Central Parkway in Queens County.

Major Payments Approved

Tax Refunds

• $171.7 million for 18,000 personal income tax refunds.
• $170.7 million for 18,000 corporate and other refunds.
• $50.8 million for 316,000 property tax freeze credits.

Department of Agriculture and Markets

• $500,000 to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to administer the Animal Population Control Program

Department of Civil Service

• $187.5 million to Empire BlueCross BlueShield for state employee health insurance claims.

Office of Employee Relations

• $1.4 million to Civil Service Employees Association Inc. for employee development.

Gaming Commission

• $7.7 million to McCann Erickson USA Inc. for media planning and buying services for traditional lottery products such as Mega Millions, Power Ball and scratch-off tickets.
• $1.6 million to the city of Salamanca and $379,000 to Cattaraugus County for tribal compact payments.

Office of General Services

• $3.5 million to IIT Inc. and $1.4 million to Knowledge Builders Inc. for hourly based IT services.
• $1 million to Albany Convention Center Authority for the Albany Capital Center Project.

Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

• $187.5 million to New York University to repair and replace facilities damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

New York State Legislature – Assembly

• $1,250 to Hogan Lovells US LLP for legal services related to sexual harassment litigation.

New York State Legislature – Senate

• $210,000 to Cuti Hecker Wang LLP for legal services related to the 2012 legislative redistricting process.

Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation

• $920,000 to Diekow Electric Inc. for potable water and electrical system improvements at Delta Lake State Park.

Department of State – Financial Restructuring Board

• $3.9 million to the city of Albany for financial restructuring activities.

State University Construction Fund

• $6.9 million to LP Ciminelli Inc. to construct the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo.
• $3 million to Niram Inc. to construct the new science center at SUNY New Paltz.

New York State Thruway Authority

• $75.4 million to Tappan Zee Constructors LLC for the Tappan Zee Bridge Project.
• $1.7 million to HNTB New York Engineering & Architecture PC for Tappan Zee Bridge engineering services.

Department of Transportation

• $3.5 million to Hudson Transit Lines Inc. for intercity bus passenger service.
• $1.5 million to Long Island Railroad Company to rehabilitate three bridges on the Montauk and Bayridge branches.

New York State Empire State Development Corporation

• $9 million to the Department of Transportation to reconstruct a one-mile segment of Robert Moses Parkway in Niagara County.

Payment Rejections and Other Cost Recoveries

The Comptroller’s rejection of 600 payments valued at approximately $2.2 million included 60 tax refunds valued at $285,000. DiNapoli’s auditors also recovered nearly $90,000 from vendors owing debts to the state, and held payments of more than $831,000 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.