PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Change orders on federal projects require federal oversight when federal funds are used. However, for in-state road projects where change orders are financed entirely with state funds or grants, there are currently no requirements to include federal agencies during the course of the work. In these cases, the state outlines the goals, defines the tasks, and covers the expenses.
The contractors on the Washington Bridge demo job, Aetna and Vinagro, told the state what it would cost to get the additional work done. No estimates, no competition, just a price. The State of Rhode Island has recently granted those contractors a $38.4 million change order based on “industry opinions”. But which industry opinions are we relying on, and why are we spending grant money on local contractors without conducting our own estimates?
This Washington Bridge change order is posted below and it is 11 pages long for a $38.4 million request. It contains no federal signatures, which means the federal government only knows the work is being done, but not the costs.
In contrast, a separate project’s change order (posted below), involving federal oversight and totaling $150,000, spans 38 pages and includes far more detailed documentation despite the dramatically lower price tag.
The state does not seem to have a problem with sending grant money to local contractors to perform work, without proper estimation. Will the demo change order actually cost $38.4 million, or is the real cost closer to $10 million, leaving a potential $28.4 million windfall for the contractor?
During the most recent oversight hearings, Aetna Bridge was accused of not filing the proper paperwork for campaign contributions. They eventually backtracked and resubmitted their paperwork after the fact.
How much of this $38.4 million change order will find its way back into the pockets of the people that awarded the work, or obtained the grants? What else could we spend this money on to improve our infrastructure? Will there be another Washington Bridge change order in the future and who will pay for it?
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