State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today his office approved 2,117 contracts valued at $18 billion and approved more than 4.3 million payments worth more than $21.7 billion in March. His office also rejected 243 contracts and related transactions valued at $1.15 billion and more than 9,400 payments valued at more than $17.8 million due to fraud, waste or other improprieties.

Cumulatively through March for calendar year 2016, DiNapoli’s office has approved 5,292 contracts valued at $25.8 billion and approved more than 10.5 million payments worth nearly $42.3 billion. His office has also rejected 645 contracts and related transactions valued at $6.4 billion and more than 20,000 payments valued at nearly $32.4 million.
As the state’s chief financial officer, DiNapoli’s office reviews contracts for all state agencies and certain 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 ten days for contract reviews in March 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 calendar years 2013 through the first quarter of 2016, are posted in the Comptroller's reading room. This information is updated quarterly.

Major Contracts Approved

Office of Children and Family Services

• $76.4 million with Morpho Trust USA Inc. for fingerprint services.

Department of Economic Development

• $4.5 million grant to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, $4.5 million grant to Syracuse University, $4.5 million grant to the SUNY Research Foundation, $4.3 million grant to Rochester Institute of Technology and $4.5 million grant to the University of Rochester for the Centers for Advanced Technology Program.
• $250,000 with World Racing Group Inc. to promote New York state dirt car racing.

Department of Environmental Conservation

• $890,000 with Safe Boats International LLC to refurbish boats.
• $500,000 with Cornell University for yogurt products research.

Office of General Services

• $9.3 million for seven contracts for road paving materials including $4.1 million to Suit-Kote Corp. and $1.6 million to Peckham Road Corp.
• $9 million to construct a State Police Forensic ID Unit addition and cold storage in Canandaigua, including $5.96 million to Russell P. LeFrois Builder Inc. and $1.4 million to Blackmon Farrell Electric Inc.
• $6.9 million for 32 emergency construction contracts at state facilities.

Department of Health

• $2 billion with Partners Health Plan Inc. for managed care of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• $ 169,000 to Summit Chemical Co. for mosquito traps and mosquito dunks.
• $ 122,000 to FM Office Express Inc. for Zika mosquito traps.

Office of the Medicaid Inspector General

• $ 108.8 million with Health Management Systems for Medicaid third party liability match and recovery services.

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

• $4.2 million for six grants for Hurricane Sandy disaster recovery for historic properties, including $950,000 to the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn and $715,000 to the Evergreens Cemetery in Brooklyn and Queens.

Office of the State Comptroller

• $1 million with Top Down Systems Corp. for the correspondence system upgrade in the Office of Unclaimed Funds.

State Education Department

• $9.1 million with Questar Assessment Inc. for printing, delivery, collection and destruction of grades 3-8 ELA and math assessments.
• $3.2 million with the Conservation Center for Arts & Historic Artifacts for statewide documentary heritage and preservation services.
• $2.2 million with NCS Pearson Inc. for administering the NYS teacher certification exam.
• $410,000 with the US Department of Commerce to design and construct a new protective case for the draft copy of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

State University of New York

• $42 million with The Standard Life Insurance Company of New York for long term disability insurance for eligible professional staff employees.
• $9.8 million for four contracts with The Council on International Education Exchange as financial agent for overseas academic programs.
• $8 million with Onondaga County for leasing 447 Salina Street in Syracuse.
• $6.8 million with Council International Study Program Inc. as financial agent for overseas academic programs.
• $1.1 million to The SUNY Research Foundation for operations in Turkey.

Department of Transportation

• $15 million to the Albany Port District Commission for reconstruction at the Port of Albany.
• $12.5 million with Travelers Marketing LLC for revenue sponsorship of Highway Emergency Local Patrol (HELP) services.
• $511,000 with Travelers Marketing LLC for revenue sponsorship of Text Stop texting zones.

Major Payments Approved

Tax Refunds

• $2 billion for 2.1 million personal income tax refunds.
• $99.4 million for 16,000 corporate and other refunds.
• $77.3 million for 201,000 property tax freeze credits.

Department of Agriculture and Markets

• $1.7 million to the American Dairy Association for dairy promotion programs for New York.
• $1.2 million to New York State Federation of Growers & Processors Association for child care for migrant workers.

Dormitory Authority of the State of New York

• $123 million to Fort Schuyler Management Corporation to design and construct a Solar Panel Facility at RiverBend/SolarCity in Buffalo.
• $95,000 to the Village of Hoosick Falls for restoration of the village’s water tank.

Empire State Development Corporation

• $25 million to Fort Schuyler Management Corporation for construction of Athenex’s new corporate headquarters on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
• $5 million to Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus for construction of the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital.

Department of Environmental Conservation

• $14.5 million to The Nature Conservancy for acquisition of the former Finch Pruyn Lands.

Gaming Commission

• $9.4 million to seven localities for revenue collected related to licensing fees for the Del Lago Resort and Casino.
• $1.4 million to the city of Salamanca and $641,000 to Cattaraugus County for tribal compact payments.

Office of General Services

• $14 million for hourly-based IT services, including $2.2 million to PSI International Inc., $1.8 million to Software People Inc., and $1.8 million to IIT Inc.

Department of Health

• $86 million to O’Connell & Aronowitz PC and $73.3 million to Hinman Straub PC to settle approximately 8,000 pending Medicaid rate appeals and 400 Medicaid litigation cases with residential health care facilities.
• $16.1 million to Maximus Inc. for assistance with the state’s Heath Benefit Exchange.

New York State Legislature – Assembly

• $87,000 to Rossein Associates for outside counsel related to sexual harassment policy development and investigations.
• $17,000 to Roemer Wallens Gold & Mineaux LLP for outside counsel for independent investigations of sexual harassment.
• $9,000 to Zuckerman Spaeder LLP to represent the Assembly in the investigation of former Speaker Sheldon Silver conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

• $2.5 million to the Wildlife Conservation Society and $2.5 million to the New York Botanical Garden for general operating support.

State University Construction Fund

• $26.4 million to LP Ciminelli Inc. for construction at the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Science.
• $2.2 million to Stalco Construction Inc. to rehabilitate Conklin Hall at SUNY Farmingdale.

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

• $24 million in federal Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits to assist approximately 56,000 low-income New Yorkers with home heating or heat-related emergencies.

New York State Thruway Authority

• $55.9 million to Tappan Zee Constructors LLC for the Tappan Zee Bridge Project.
• $1.2 million to HNTB New York Engineering & Architecture PC for Tappan Zee Bridge engineering services.

Department of Transportation

• $4.8 million to American Rock Salt Co LLC for road salt.
• $1.5 million to Tectonic Engineering & Surveying Consultants for construction inspection services.
• $1.2 million to H&L Contracting LLC for critical bridge improvements on Routes 908E and 908J in the towns of Hempstead and Islip.

Payment Rejections and Other Cost Recoveries

The Comptroller’s rejection of more than 9,400 payments valued at more than $17.8 million included nearly 4,000 tax refunds valued at nearly $6.5 million. DiNapoli’s auditors also recovered nearly $94,000 from vendors owing debts to the state, and held payments of nearly $773,000 pending resolution of disputes between subcontractors and prime contractors.

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.