State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today his office approved 1,606 contracts valued at $94.3 billion and approved nearly 1.4 million payments worth approximately $10.4 billion in May. His office also rejected 178 contracts and related transactions valued at $309 million and nearly 2,700 payments valued at nearly $14.3 million due to fraud, waste or other improprieties.

Cumulatively through May for calendar year 2015, DiNapoli’s office has approved 8,351 contracts valued at $122.6 billion and approved more than 9.3 million payments worth nearly $54.3 billion. His office has also rejected 901 contracts and related transactions valued at $2.5 billion and approximately 20,000 payments valued at more than $49.5 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 May 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.

Major Contracts Approved

Department of Agriculture and Markets

• NY State Fair - 28 concession contracts estimated to bring in $692,000 in revenue.

Office of Children and Family Services - Healthy Families New York

• $16.2 million in grants to various providers statewide.

Department of Environmental Conservation

• $3.7 million with Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District for Chesapeake Bay restoration data collection.
• $1.7 million with Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc. for the purchase of Mountain Road property in Deerpark and Greenville townships, Orange County.

NYS Gaming Commission

• $711,000 in additional funding for the Taft, Stettinius & Hollister contract to assist in review of Casino applications. 

Department of Health

• $92.1 billion for 9 Medicaid managed care and Family Health Plus insurance contracts, including $24.4 billion for Health First PHSP and $22.6 billion for NYS Catholic Health Plan, Inc.

Department of Motor Vehicles

• $77,001 for three revenue contracts of $25,667 each to Info Link Technologies, Statistical Surveys Inc., and Verihull LLC for the sale of boat title and registration data. 

Office for People with Developmental Disabilities

• $25.8 million with NYSARC Inc., New York City Chapter, for assurance of lease payments related to program transfers from the Federation Employment & Guidance Service (FEGS).

Statewide Financial System (SFS)

• $8.6 million with Metaformers Inc. for Peoplesoft consulting services for SFS upgrade.

SUNY at Buffalo

• $3.5 million to Buffalo Archives for building purchase on Rensch Road, Amherst, Erie County.

SUNY at Stony Brook

• $300 million with SB Clinical Network IPA LLC to coordinate the Performing Provider System for SUNY SB Hospital as a lead in the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Medicaid reform initiative.
• $7.5 million to NYS Industries for the Disabled to provide grounds maintenance for campus residencies.
• $5 million to NYS Industries for the Disabled for custodial services at Chapin and Schomburg Apartments.

SUNY – Upstate Medical University

• $300 million with Central New York Care Collaborative Inc. to coordinate Performing Provider System for SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital as a lead in the DSRIP Medicaid reform initiative.

Department of Transportation

• $30.8 million with Crane Hogan Structural Systems Inc. for I-390 bridges and highway work.
• $10.4 million with Dolomite Products Company Inc. for 15.9 miles of asphalt/concrete resurfacing on I-86 and I-99, Steuben County.
• $7.3 million with Bove Industries for standby construction in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
• $3 million in stipends of $1 million each to CCA Civil Inc. / Halmar Int’l. Inc.; Schiavone Construction Co. LLC; and Tutor Perini Corporation as unsuccessful bidders on the Kosciuszko Bridge design/build project.

Major Payments Approved

Tax Refunds

• $432.8 million for 332,000 personal income tax refunds.
• $226.4 million for 43,000 corporate and other refunds.
• $61,000 for 600 property tax freeze credits.

Department of Agriculture & Markets

• $763,000 to NYS Federation of Growers & Processors Association Inc. for Agri-Business Child Development.

Department of Economic Development

• $471,000 to New York City Industrial & Technology Assistance Corp. and $185,000 to Hudson Valley Technical Development Center to increase the competitiveness of New York companies through Regional Technology Development Centers.

State Education Department

• $92,000 to Atmosphere Academy Public Charter Schools for the Charter Schools Planning and Implementation Grant.

New York State Gaming Commission

• $10.2 million to 10 counties for tribal state compact payments.
• $711,000 to Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP for advisory services to select applicants for casino development and operations.

Department of Health

• $260 million to 18 providers for performance on healthcare delivery system transformation projects that improve care for low-income patients under the DSRIP program.

Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

• $3.2 million to NYS Canal Corporation for the Hazard Mitigation Grants Program.

New York State Legislature – Senate

• $1,185 to Kirkland & Ellis LLP for legal services and special counsel related to the Moreland Commission.

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

• $703,000 to Scott Lawn Yard Inc. for playground construction at Buffalo Harbor State Park.
• $111,000 to National Lawn Sprinklers Inc. for a new irrigation system at Sunken Meadow Golf Course.

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

• $11.2 million in federal Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits to assist nearly 33,000 New Yorkers.
• $615,000 to Legal Services NYC, $235,000 to Empire Justice Center, and $189,000 to Urban Justice Center for the Disability Advocacy Program.

Department of Transportation

• $5.1 million to  NYS Urban Development Corporation for improvements at Moynihan Station.
• $4.8 million to New York City for the Emergency Relief Program.

State University of New York

• $2.7 million to McTech Corp to expand the SUNY Albany campus center.
• $2,000 to Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason and Anello PC for legal services litigation related to Long Island College Hospital.

New York State Urban Development Corporation

• $40 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

• $11.1 million to the City of Yonkers for the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) Program.
• $91,000 to the County of Erie for an Efficiency Incentive Grant.

Payment Rejections and Other Cost Recoveries

The Comptroller’s rejection of nearly 2,700 payments valued at nearly $14.3 million included more than 1,000 tax refunds valued at more than $3.1 million. DiNapoli’s auditors also recovered more than $73,000 from vendors owing debts to the state, and held payments of nearly $807,000 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.