State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today his office reviewed 2,035 contracts valued at $1.6 billion and approved more than 1.3 million payments worth more than $7.6 billion during the month of July. His office also rejected 256 contracts and related transactions valued at $304.6 million and more than 1,250 payments valued at $3.1 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 July 2014:

Major Contracts Approved

Department of Homeland Security - Hurricanes Irene and Lee Hazard Mitigation

• $17.8 million in grants to 16 municipalities, including the town of Conklin ($5.3 million), Greene County ($4.9 million), and the village of Middleburgh ($1.1 million).

Department of Homeland Security

• $138 million urban area security grant to New York City.

State Insurance Fund

• $51 million contract for pharmacy benefit services with CaremarkPCS LLC for the Workers’ Compensation prescription drug plan. 

New York State Assembly

• $58,000 contract amendment to Whiteman Osterman and Hanna LLP for outside counsel.

Department of Agriculture and Markets – State Fair

• $850,000 estimated revenue contract with Ovations Food Services LP to operate the four year-round restaurants at the state fairgrounds.

Department of Corrections

• $894,000 contract with Swank Motion Pictures Inc. for a public performance license to show motion pictures at correctional facilities.

Department of Transportation

• $7.7 million contract with Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc. to operate the Hudson Valley Transportation Management Center.
• $6.4 million contract with National Grid to relocate gas lines for the Kosciuszko Bridge project.
• $7.8 million contract with STV Inc. for construction management services for the Kosciuszko Bridge project.

Thruway Authority

• $58.7 million with Yonkers Contracting Co. Inc. for New England Thruway I-95 pavement rehabilitation.

Office of the General Services

• $3 million contract with Rosemar Construction Inc. to modernize the flight line area at the army aviation support facility at MacArthur Airport.

Department of Environmental Conservation

• $4.3 million contract with the Nature Conservancy to administer invasive plant and species partnerships in the Adirondack Park and the St. Lawrence-Lake Ontario region.

Major Payments Approved

Tax Refunds

• Paid $234.4 million for nearly 124,000 personal income tax refunds and approximately $115.7 million for nearly 21,000 corporate and other refunds.

Department of Civil Service

• $161 million to CaremarkPCS Health LLC for pharmacy benefit services for the Empire Plan, Excelsior Plan and Student Health Plan.

Department of Health

• $18.4 million to Computer Sciences Corporation for fiscal agent services. 

Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

• $14.3 million to Adjusters International Inc. for disaster relief services.

Governor’s Office of Employee Relations

• $7.6 million to United University Professions Benefit for negotiated health benefits under a collective bargaining agreement.

Executive Department

• $33.7 million for payments to eligible M/C employees for salary increases ($25.7 million), performance advances ($7.5 million) and longevity payments ($500,000).

Empire State Development Corporation

• $5.2 million for capital improvements to Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills.

State Education Department

• $1.1 million to Common Core Inc. and $95,000 to Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound Inc. for development of the New York State Common Core.

New York State Assembly

• $50,000 to Rossein Associates for outside counsel for sexual harassment policy development and investigations.
• $10,000 to Roemer Wallens Gold & Mineaux LLP for outside counsel for independent investigations under the Assembly’s sexual harassment/retaliation policy.

New York State Senate

• $122,000 to Code and Theory LLC for website development.

Office of General Services

• $605,000 to the Albany Convention Center Authority to fund construction of the new Albany Convention Center, pursuant to the 2014-15 State budget.
• $86,000 to Otis Elevator Company to upgrade the Corning Tower elevators.

Gaming Commission

• $557,000 to Camelot Global Services North America Inc. for market research.
• $375,000 to Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP for gaming advisory services related to the selection of applicants to develop and operate casinos in New York.

Local Government Assistance

• $13.9 million to six counties and two cities for payment of Tribal State Compact moneys associated with revenues from the Seneca Allegany Casino, Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino and the Seneca Niagara Casino.

Payment Rejections and Other Cost Recoveries

The Comptroller’s rejection of more than 1,250 payments valued at $3.1 million included nearly 580 tax refunds valued at nearly $1.3 million. DiNapoli’s auditors also recovered more than $62,000 from vendors owing debts to the state, and held more than $581,000 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.