NYC Comptroller Lander Announces New Real-Time Audit of $432 Million No-Bid DocGo Contract for Work on Asylum Seeker Emergency

Lander previously declined to approve contract due to numerous concerns with controversial vendor hired to provide shelter services to new arrivals 

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander today announced he will immediately commence a first-of-its-kind audit of the oversight of the operations and invoices incurred by DocGo, Inc., the medical services company hired by the city to provide shelter services to new arrivals in the city and upstate. In a new letter sent to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), Lander noted his office has “serious concerns about the selection of this vendor and its performance of contract duties,” adding that “agencies must seek to obtain as much competition in vendor selection as is practicable” and “ensure that selected vendors have the requisite expertise and wherewithal to perform as required under the contract.”

Earlier this month, the office declined to approve the no-bid $432 million contract due to outstanding questions about how this vendor was selected and is performing its duties.

“There are just too many outstanding questions and concerns about DocGo and this $432 million no-bid contract,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “New Yorkers deserve real-time oversight and accountability to understand how this price tag was reached, ensure this company has the experience to provide the contracted services, and vet the integrity and responsibility of this vendor.”

Lander also indicated that, due to questions surrounding the DocGo contract, his office is currently reviewing whether there is a need to revoke a 2022 prior approval authorization the Comptroller’s Office granted the Administration to utilize emergency procurement rather than seek specific prior approval for each individual contract. Lander noted the prior authorization had not been intended as a blanket approval of any contract that any agency wishes to enter into, and that “after 18 months, this is no longer an unexpected situation that merits the broad suspension of due diligence processes to ensure that City funds are being spent wisely and with integrity.”

Read the full letter Lander sent to HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr (PDF version).