The Nassau County Legislature Rules Committee voted unanimously on Monday to close a loophole in the county contract system.
Vendors that have a country contract are not required to resubmit disclosure forms if awarded additional contracts within a six-month period. The measure that was approved requires vendors to submit a certification that there have been no material changes to the information on the disclosure form since it was filed.
Nassau County Legislator Siela Bynoe (D-Westbury) drafted the bill after legislators last month unanimously voted to table a $500,000 contract with Exiger, a Manhattan-based risk and compliance firm that was to offer “integrity monitoring” services for the $50 million police academy project, due to concerns over outdated disclosure forms and the selection process.
The integrity monitor would work to prevent fraud, waste and abuse on the job site but according to Newsday, the contract will go back to bid after Nassau County Executive Laura Curran withdrew it from legislative consideration earlier this month.
Exiger currently has another contract with the county for third-party monitoring software that allows the county to review vendors beyond the disclosure forms. The contract was for less than $1,000, so Legislature approval was not required.
Legislators also had concerns over Exiger’s selection after it offered the county free monitoring services for 18 months and the inspector general was involved in the selection committee.
At last month’s committee meeting, Nassau County Legislator Steve Rhoads (R-Bellmore) expressed skepticism over the bid’s release coming a day after the county executive’s announcement of the free services.
John Chiara, the deputy county executive for compliance, said the free service is limited to Exiger’s software and is part of a pilot program where the county has to provide feedback on the program. He said Exiger’s software is only a small part of the scope of the contract, which also includes field investigation, on-site monitoring, auditing and reviewing change orders among other services.
Chiara said the county inspector general, Jodi Franzese, was included in the selection committee because she would be involved with services in the contract, but Rhoads had concerns over her involvement posing a conflict of interest.
One of the inspector general’s essential functions is to serve as an independent monitor of the procurement process.
Rhoads asked how a concern raised with the contract’s procurement process could be properly investigated if the person tasked with that responsibility was involved in the process in question.
Despite the delay of the integrity monitor contract, Newsday reported the construction of the police academy will continue.
Bynoe’s bill is expected to go before the full County Legislature on Aug. 5.
