Contract Review Committee considers 26 contracts and routine renewals; quorum reached

The Contract Review Committee convened to consider 26 contracts and amendments across multiple state agencies and confirmed a quorum before opening the docket. The Chair said three contracts were rejected previously and urged agencies to submit accurate figures to avoid repeated corrections.

The meeting included brief presentations from agency counsel and directors. Richard Dwise, general counsel at ADCA, said the agency submitted two monitoring‑services amendments required by the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Act for federal funding. "We have two contract amendments for you this morning," Dwise said. Anne Gunnar, deputy attorney general with the Banking Department, described a six‑month extension of the statewide deferred‑presentment (payday‑loan) database, saying the contract is no‑cost to the state and is being extended while the department renegotiates procurement terms. "We're extending it for 6 months and then we'll be doing a new one after that," Gunnar said.

Public‑health and Medicaid items drew technical questions. Nick Hines, assistant general counsel with the Alabama Medicaid Agency, said the agency's asset‑verification contract pays per "hit" and required an amendment because the system produced more hits than anticipated; he said the contract will be renewed and then rebid. Sandra Howard, speaking for the Department of Public Health, described an amendment with I‑aware to supply at‑home STI testing kits and a contract with Maximus Services to develop a Medicaid‑required cost‑allocation plan.

John Gruce, representing the Board of Pardons and Paroles, introduced a new contract with Firehouse Ministries to provide recovery‑oriented housing for Birmingham day‑reporting center participants, noting the RFP reached 146 vendors and produced four responses. Nanny Reid, general counsel for Emergency Management, presented a one‑year weather‑consulting renewal up to $80,000 to provide modeling and staff briefings.

Most items were reported as routine amendments, renewals or new contracts with limited debate. The Chair closed the session with a reminder that next month's meeting will be held upstairs in room 807 on the eighth floor (the "Star Wars" room).