State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today his office reviewed over 2,000 contracts valued at $2.1 billion and approved nearly 1.2 million payments worth nearly $8.9 billion in November. His office also rejected 166 contracts and related transactions valued at $348 million and more than 1,700 payments valued at more than $3.9 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 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 November 2014:

Major Contracts Approved

Higher Education Services Corporation

• $34 million revenue contract with Navient Credit Finance Corporation for sale of student loans.
• $1.4 million for College Access Challenge Grants to seven recipients including Yonkers Partners in Education, New York City Outward Bound Center and Harlem Center for Education.

Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

• $6.9 million with Albany hotels for correction officer lodging during training.
• $4 million for meat and grocery supplies for the DOCCS Oneida Food Production Center.
• $575,000 revenue contract to sell prison meals to Saratoga County.

Division of Criminal Justice Services

• $5.2 million in grants to crime labs and crime analysis centers statewide.

Office of General Services

• $200,000 with Wilkins Mechanical Inc. to decommission McGregor Correctional Facility.

Super Storm Sandy Block Grants

• $31.6 million Department of Health grants, including $22.3 million to NYU Hospitals Center and $3.5 million to Beth Israel Medical Center.
• $5.2 million Office of Children & Family Services grants, including New York City ($3.2 million), New York Center for Child Development ($630,000) and Visiting Nurse Service of New York ($580,000).
• $1.9 million Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services grants to Lower Eastside Service Center Inc. ($1.6 million) and Educational Alliance Inc. ($300,000).

Department of Transportation

• $63 million to Kiska Construction Inc. for highway maintenance in New York City.
• $12.5 million to Verde Electric Maintenance Corp. for field equipment maintenance in the lower Hudson Valley.
• $10.9 million to H&K Contracting LLC for bridge maintenance and repairs in Suffolk County.
• $3.2 million for 15 railroad grade crossing improvements in Albany, Saratoga, Clinton, Niagara, Orange and Cayuga counties.

Moreland Commission

• $150,000 with Kirkland & Ellis LLP for legal services for the state Senate related to the Moreland Commission.
• $150,000 with Loeb & Loeb for legal services for the Independent Democratic Conference related to the Moreland Commission.

Major Payments Approved

Tax Refunds

• $663.9 million for 101,000 personal income tax refunds.
• $164 million for 21,000 corporate and other refunds.
• $78.6 million for 511,000 property tax freeze credits.

State University of New York

• $1.2 million to University Surgical Associates LLP for pediatric surgery services at SUNY Upstate Medical Center.
• $25,000 to Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello PC for legal services related to Long Island College Hospital.

New York State Assembly

• $397,000 to Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman LLP for outside counsel services.
• $177,000 to Hogan Lovells for defense work in sexual harassment litigation.
• $59,000 to Rossein Associates for sexual harassment policy development and investigations.
• $15,000 to Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP for outside counsel in the appeals process related to Assemblyman Micah Kellner.

New York State Senate

• $70,000 to Loeb & Loeb LLP for legal services, including special counsel for the Independent Democratic Conference related to the Moreland Commission.

State Education Department

• $2.2 million to Common Core Inc. for development of New York State’s Common Core.
• $353,000 to The After School Corp. for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program.

Gaming Commission

• $530,000 to Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP for gaming advisory services related to the selection of applicants to develop and operate a casino.

Department of Health

• $933,000 to Regenerative Research Foundation and $528,000 to Sloan-Kettering Institute for stem cell research.
• $849,000 to Food Bank of Central New York for hunger prevention and nutrition.

Department of Agriculture and Markets

• $5.3 million to NYS Federation of Growers & Processors Associations, Inc. for agribusiness development.
• $41,000 to Garnet River LLC to update and expand the Pride of New York website.
• $30,000 to Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York to promote Christmas trees.

Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation

• $333,000 to Corbex Inc. for rehabilitation of Jones Beach State Park’s boardwalk.

Payment Rejections and Other Cost Recoveries

The Comptroller’s rejection of more than 1,700 payments valued at more than $3.9 million included approximately 160 tax refunds valued at nearly $1.6 million. DiNapoli’s auditors also recovered nearly $115,000 from vendors owing debts to the state, and held payments of more than $671,000 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.