DOC Provided False Information to AG PAC Office – Millions In No Bid Contracts Spent Under Guise of “Emergency”

Illinois (ECWd) –

After receiving tips months ago regarding questionable purchases by the Illinois Department of Corrections, we began submitting our Freedom of Information Act requests related to the allegations provided to us. The specific tip indicated that there were numerous purchases being made without following the proper procurement process by claiming they were emergency purchases.

Our first FOIA request:

1. A copy of all rental/lease agreements for any equipment including trailers and/or mobile homes used for meal preparation at Stateville Correctional Center since January 1, 2022.
2. Copy of all bids received for the purchase, rent, and or lease of equipment since January 1, 2022, to include the above referenced trailers and/or mobile homes.
3. Copy of approved monthly expenses related to meal preparation to include rented or leased property being used for meal preparation.

The response from the initial FOIA indicated they had zero bids received.  That is problematic considering there was over $2.8 Million dollars spent related to the mobile homes used for meal preparation.  Based on the response, another FOIA was submitted.

1. A copy of all invoices from contract numbers 4100207588 and 4100189831 with Mobile Concepts Inc. since January 1, 2022.
2. A copy of all construction contracts and invoices tied to those contracts for Stateville Correctional Center since January 1, 2022.
3. A copy of Mobile Concepts Inc., Certificate of Insurance as required in the contracts.
4. A copy of All contracts with Mobile Concepts Inc.

In addition to the above, another FOIA was submitted because we were narrowing down the key issues in our investigation.

1. A copy of all invoices related to construction/reconstruction costs at the Joliet Correctional Center submitted in the last 12 months.
2. A copy of all the supporting documentation for all change orders approved in the last 12 months related to construction/re-construction, kitchen trailers etc at the Joliet Correctional Center.

Response:

“Your request is vague.  A reasonable description requires the requested record to be reasonably identified.  Kenyon v. Garrels, 184 Ill. App. 3d 28, 32-33 (Ill. App. 1989); Yeager v. DEA, 678 F. 2d 315, 326 (D.C. Cir. 1982) (“The linchpin inquiry is whether the agency is able to determine precisely what records [are] being requested.”).  It is unclear what records you are seeking.”

There was nothing vague about my request.  A request for review to the Attorney Public Access Counselor resulted in DOC claiming they have no records because Statesville is under the control of the city of Joliet and is not run by DOC.  We withdrew our request for review after the AG PAC office informed us that they have done all they can to get the records and suggested we resubmit with a narrowed request.

A now-released legislative audit report proves DOC not only runs Stateville, but the very topic of mobile kitchen-related expenditures and emergency procurements are findings in the report.  The report points to 40 audit findings, of which 27 are repeated findings.

It is our opinion that once we narrowed our third request, they knew what we were trying to expose, illegal procurement under the guise of an “emergency”.

We urge people to read the Legislative Audit Commission Report and pay particular attention to the Emergency Procurements that were done.  When you see what is being purchased, ask yourself, is that really an emergency or total malfeasance on behalf of those making those purchases?  Note that purchases related to Stateville Corrections Center are tied to ongoing reconstruction matters that have been in the works for years.

• Estimated cost – $803,415 in state funds for a vendor to use mobile dietary kitchens while kitchen renovations are completed at Stateville Correctional Center.
• Estimated cost – $200,185.09 in state funds for 15’ and 16’ box trucks.
• Estimated cost – $3.5 million in state funds to a vendor to provide multiple skill levels of nursing staff at DOC facilities.
• Estimated cost – $235,200 in state funds to a vendor to develop an emergency meal plan and provide management and consulting services for implementation.
• Estimated cost – $200,000 in state funds for a vendor to conduct onsite surveys and inspections at Stateville and Logan Correctional Centers to determine environmental impact of demolishing and cleaning up two sites.
• Estimated cost – $680,000 in state funds to purchase 40 police vehicles.
• Estimated cost – $80,000 in state funds to purchase a passenger van.
• Estimated cost – $287,520 in state funds to purchase 4 passenger vans.
• Estimated cost – $850,000 in state funds to purchase 50 police vehicles.
• Estimated cost – $850,000 in state funds to purchase 50 police vehicles.
• Estimated cost – $937,800 in state funds to purchase 20 passenger vans
• Estimated cost – $2,700,800 in state funds for a vendor to provide multiple skill levels of nursing staff for DOC facilities while a new competitive solicitation is conducted.
• Estimated cost – $692,640 in state funds for a vendor to provide sliced bread to be served at DOC facilities while a new solicitation is being evaluated.

While the above are emergency purchases that clearly would not qualify as an actual emergency, it is crystal clear from reading the entire report that heads should roll, people should be fired, and criminal investigations should begin. Our request for a criminal investigation is based on the allegations we received, which pointed to insider deals being given to local vendors who, in some way, had connections to get no-bid work.  Considering DOC has refused to provide invoices as requested, it makes it impossible for us to know which vendors received contracts properly.

A copy of the report can be downloaded at this link or viewed below.