The city school system could not prove it sought competitive bids for an $88.1 million custodial-supply contract, then failed to monitor whether it was overpaying for things like mops and cleaners, according to Comptroller Scott Stringer.
“The Department of Education failed to take even the most basic measures to oversee its custodial supplies vendor,” Stringer charged in an audit.
DOE officials responded that the comptroller relied on unverified accusations from custodians and failed to prove taxpayers were harmed.
Auditors examined a five-year contract with Strategic Distribution Inc., which won the award in 2010 after competing bidders were disqualified.
The auditors determined that school officials failed to monitor the market prices of supplies bought from SDI.
“In the beginning, I used to get crazy because I know many products are cheaper elsewhere, but I follow the rules,” one custodian told auditors.