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* Press release…
COMPTROLLER MENDOZA CALLS FOR REVIEW OF RAUNER ADMINISTRATION’S $100,000-A-DAY TOLLWAY DEAL
Deloitte Consulting to receive additional $9 million for 90 days of ‘emergency’ help on costly statewide tech overhaul
Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza on Tuesday called for further review by independent procurement officials of an $8.9 million, 90-day ‘emergency’ contract between the Illinois Toll Highway Authority and Deloitte Consulting for the ‘continuation of implementation services’ for the State’s Enterprise Resource Program (ERP), a state Information Technology upgrade project that has ballooned in cost under the Rauner Administration.
In a document published online on Jan. 11, Tollway officials said the additional dollars are needed because the funds assigned to the project through the State’s Department of Innovation Technology (DOIT) are depleted.
“Failing to properly estimate cost and overspending is not an emergency - it’s poor project management. This is part of a pattern of cost overruns, missed deadlines and contract mismanagement by Governor Bruce Rauner and, once again, taxpayers are footing the bill,” Comptroller Mendoza said.
State procurement practices by the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services were the topic of a series of recent hearings hosted by lawmakers. In December, the State’s Chief Procurement Officer determined the Rauner Administration had misapplied an exemption to award a $12 million consulting contract to McKinsey & Company. In an unprecedented step by the Chief Procurement Officer, the McKinsey contract with the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services (HFS) was invalidated.
Mendoza pointed to a $67.5 million sole source contract with the state’s Department of Human Services (DHS) for additional work on another Deloitte project to provide food stamps and other benefits to Illinoisans as another recent example of contract mismanagement by the Rauner Administration. The cost of the Deloitte benefits contract has skyrocketed to $288 million—more than double the original $143 million budget approved in 2012.
The ‘emergency’ Tollway deal is not subject to competitive bidding or a public hearing. Unlike a sole source contract, there is no waiting period for it to take effect. It is not subject to review by the State’s independent Chief Procurement Officer or the State’s Procurement Policy Board. A contract bulletin posted last week provides no details as to how the $9 million will be spent.
Comptroller Mendoza has criticized the Rauner Administration for failing to publicly disclose information regarding ERP program goals, deadlines and costs. For nearly a year, DOIT has failed to answer basic questions from the Office of the Comptroller and lawmakers regarding the status of the ERP, program staffing and funding levels. Pending a response to repeated inquiries, the Office of the Comptroller has placed a hold on payment of certain ERP contracts, representing just two percent of the FY2017 DOIT budget.
Comptroller Mendoza said applying an emergency contract designation when it’s not merited sets an alarming precedent.
“Procurement rules should be a check on irresponsible spending. Those rules are being circumvented here and we would ask that the State’s independent procurement officials review the contract and determine if this is an appropriate use of an emergency contract. To me, the Tollway has failed to make a convincing case. This isn’t a broken water main that poses a danger to drivers on a state roadway. Before a cash-strapped state starts handing over $100,000 a day there should be vetting via an open and transparent process.” Comptroller Mendoza said.
By statute, the conditions under which emergency procurements can take place include a threat to public health or safety; protecting against further loss or damage to State property; preventing disruption in services that affect health, safety or the collection of substantial state revenues; or capitalizing on a discounted price to take advantage of cost savings.
…Adding… From the tollway…
Rich:
The Illinois Tollway followed the instructions of the independent Chief Procurement Office to use a 90-day emergency procurement to continue work necessary to ensure there is no disruption in our process of implementing the Enterprise Resource Program (ERP).
The procurement will fund work over the next 12 months to complete Phase 1 of the Tollway’s ERP, which is replacing an outdated, costly and obsolete system with a new platform that will streamline administrative operations, provide greater transparency and enhance automated reporting while reducing or preventing audit issues.
These improvements will enable the Tollway to operate more efficiently.Thanks,
Dan Rozek
Sr. Manager of Communications
Illinois Tollway
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 10:57 am
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This one stinks to high heavens. Questioning it is the right thing to do … and it is also good politics. I’m sure Rauner will accuse Mendoza of being on a political witch hunt.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 11:06 am
Ahh the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. Lots of financial shenanigans go on over there. Check out the state police salaries over there. Make sure to include overtime.
Comment by David Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 11:09 am
An ERP system that has been in the works for years certainly does not sound like a reason for an emergency procurement.
Comment by A Jack Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 11:17 am
== An ERP system that has been in the works for years certainly does not sound like a reason for an emergency procurement. ==
The “emergency” is Mendoza is they’ve ran out money to pay the contractor.
Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 11:21 am
Not that she’s not right, but meanwhile, her office still isn’t accepting TIF reports from municipalities that were supposed to be sent to her office last October….
Comment by Shemp Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 11:21 am
The Erp system was supposed to be a Statewide accounting system however because the Comptroller and Governor cannot get along the state is programming a new Erp system on the governor side with an old accounting system called Sam’s on the couch or side this is a big waste of money when are the legislators are the auditor-general going to step in to do what’s right for the citizens of Illinois
Comment by thinking Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 11:38 am
Oh, and is this why my iPass, which “expired” and I called in to replace, has not been mailed to me as I was assured it would be, in nearly a year despite multiple phone calls?
Comment by Shemp Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 11:42 am
I bet Rauner misses his wingman more and more with each passing day.
Comment by Nick Name Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 11:57 am
Somewhere in heaven, Topinka is cheering.
Comment by Thomas Paine Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 11:58 am
Illinois politics is rotten to the core
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 12:42 pm
Remember when Rauner promised that his relaxed procurement process standards would result in $500M savings for us?
Comment by walker Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 12:50 pm
Shemp- I know we have gone after each other many times but I need you to trust what I’m saying. We’ve got too few state employees and have lost a critical mass of our veterans. Your two examples I would wager are attributable to the factors I mentioned. We are going down. We’re going to start to get heavy fines from the Feds and the trail lawyers are going to have a field day for years to come.
I’m telling you. Our functionality is grinding to a halt.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 12:50 pm
Honey bear - I’d counter that too few state employees perform an eight hour day for eight hours of pay. The moto around my state office has always been “we’ll solve no crime until over time.” I don’t think many state employees are overworked.
Comment by David Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 1:07 pm
HB- with respect, the Tollway is not one of the revenue starved agencies. It operates like it is a wealthy, independent principality like Luxembourg. The troopers that patrol the Tollway have the best equipment, they have the newest plows etc.
You are absolutely correct about many, if not all, of the other agencies though.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 1:14 pm
While I find some state agencies to be short staffed, in my many years I have rarely found them to be partners with local governments. I was discussing this with some peers the other day. Iowa agencies, for instance, seems to come off as a better partner than Illinois when it comes to working with municipalities. Illinois seemingly makes it adversarial. It’s not a new thing.
Comment by Shemp Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 1:59 pm
I know for a fact you are exactly right. Good word, it’s adversarial. Funny enough I second your insight on Iowa. I’ve also heard tell that Minnesota is more co operational as well. It’s something that surprised me about Rauner. I thought he would do more for economic development. Indeed Winters guts DCEO right off the bat. The small business and local economies ,Mainstreet, needs to be the cornerstone of growth.
Comment by Honeybear Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 2:44 pm
===The Erp system was supposed to be a Statewide accounting system however because the Comptroller and Governor cannot get along the state is programming a new Erp system on the governor side with an old accounting system called Sam’s on the couch or side this is a big waste of money when are the legislators are the auditor-general going to step in to do what’s right for the citizens of Illinois===
That is my understanding too. Mendoza’s office should be actively involved in any ERP accounting system. Why did the Comptroller back out of the project? Another commenter is right: Politics is rotten (and ruining) Illinois.
Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 8:03 pm
Backed out of ERP cause it’s a moneypit for consultants and has no worked just ask DES can’t get an auditable financial report from it.
Comment by Wow said I Thursday, Jan 18, 18 @ 8:27 pm
Gee… is that emergency procurement strategy available to our state “supported” universities? /s
Comment by morningstar Friday, Jan 19, 18 @ 9:12 am
Interesting update from Illinois Toll Highway Authority that it followed instructions of the chief purchasing office to declare an emergency foe Deloitte. Same chief purchasing office that has allowed the IES contract that Deloitte has with HFS (which has so many problems) to go from $143 million to $288 million. That office just approved a $67 million addition to the IES contract. This is the same “independent ” purchasing officer that Governor Rauner told ethics committee to appoint.
Comment by Thinking Friday, Jan 19, 18 @ 9:25 am