AUDIT SHOWS FINANCIAL TRICKERY, DUCKING OF HIRING PROCESSES AND FAILURE TO KEEP CRIMINALS OUT OF CHILD CARE FACILITIES DURING O’MALLEY’S TENURE

MSDE did not always allow the minimum 20-day bid solicitation time (the period between the date of publication of the invitation for bid and the due date for the related bids), as required by State regulations. Our tests disclosed four contracts, totaling approximately $1.1 million, for which the bid solicitation time ranged from 5 to 9 days. A shortened solicitation time may result in a reduced number of bids being received.