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Friday, October 2, 2009

Controller Reports Jump in 9-1-1 Costs

Here's the press release:

Controller Finds City's 911 Contract Cost Doubled
Controller’s Dept. of Public Property audit finds $583,000 increase
for 911 services not originally bid

PHILADELPHIA – City Controller Alan Butkovitz today released an audit of the Department of Public Property (DPP) that found the cost for the City’s 911-management contract doubled due to additional services that were not bid or in the original proposal.

The add-on services escalated the cost from $298,000 to $583,000. These services, provided by a consultant retained in 2006, did not appear in the city’s original bid request or the consultant’s proposal.

“The city bid on one package of services and ended up purchasing another costly set of services,” said Butkovitz. “It’s like bidding on a Saturn and then buying a Cadillac.”

According to Butkovitz, six months after the base contract was awarded, the contract cost had increased by one-third. Two years later the cost had nearly doubled, and significant portions of the cost were for tasks that were never bid. Among the tasks not bid was the audit of the 911 program’s finances.

“The City has a responsibility to the taxpayers to ensure the efficient use of public funds,” said Butkovitz. “The rationale for the contract award was not documented, thus avoiding government transparency

Along with the additional contract costs, participation goals were disregarded for a minority-owned business (MBE) and woman-owned business (WBE). The prime contractor only involved the WBE in a couple of planning meetings, and the MBE withdrew from contract participation in August 2008 and was never replaced. The WBE was underpaid by 90 percent, and the MBE by 16 percent.

“This type of practice only discourages minority-owned businesses from doing business within the City,” said Butkovitz.

A 2007 report, Barriers Facing Minority, Women and Disabled-Owned Businesses in City Procurement and Contracting, released by Butkovitz found similar occurrences. “We previously found that many minority business owners felt that the Minority Business Enterprise Council (MBEC) and other City agencies were not effectively carrying out their mission to increase minority participation in city procurement and contracting.”

As a follow-up to the prior year’s findings on real estate records and list of assets and appraised values, it was found that DPP obtained a list of the City’s real estate holdings from the Records Department, but the listing did not include asset valuations.

A complete inventory of real estate holdings, including valuations, is required for financial reporting purposes. The DPP is charged with maintaining the City’s real estate inventory.

“We continue to recommend that management work toward obtaining a comprehensive inventory listing that includes asset valuations based on historical cost or appraisal value,” said Butkovitz.

To review the Department of Public Property Auditor’s Report FY 2007-06 audit as well as other reports issued by the Controller’s Office, please visit www.philadelphiacontroller.org

Posted by Catherine Lucey @ 11:42 AM  Permalink | 1 comment
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:19 PM, 10/02/2009
    Sue the consultant to recover the fradulent costs.
    — Smokey


1 comments
About The Philly Clout Team
PhillyClout
Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics ­– which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans.
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Catherine Lucey
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Chris Brennan
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Jan Ransom
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