ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The town will transfer to finish its contract with a medical companies firm employed to deal with and take care of a latest inflow of worldwide migrants, following scrutiny over the agency’s expensive cope with town and the standard of its humanitarian companies.
Mayor Eric Adams’ workplace on Tuesday mentioned town wouldn’t renew its contract with DocGo earlier than it expires on Might 5 and can as a substitute seek for a brand new housing supplier for migrants.
DocGo, which beforehand labored with town to supply COVID-19 testing, was awarded a $432 million no-bid emergency contract final 12 months to assist town handle a large new inhabitants of migrants.
The association drew questions from metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander, who in reviewing the contract decided there wasn’t sufficient element to justify the associated fee and that it wasn’t clear how the corporate had the experience to move, home and feed 1000’s of migrants.
Information stories from the New York Instances and Albany Instances Union additionally detailed alleged mistreatment of migrants beneath the corporate’s care, together with points with well being care and meals waste, amongst different issues. Its chief govt officer resigned after he admitted to mendacity about his academic file.
DocGo at the moment offers take care of 3,600 migrants in New York, half within the metro space and half upstate, officers mentioned.
The corporate will proceed to supply companies for migrants who have been relocated upstate till a brand new vendor is picked, with town aiming to have a brand new contractor by the top of the 12 months. In New York Metropolis, officers will briefly use an current contract with the corporate Garner Environmental Companies to take care of migrants.
“It will in the end permit town to save lots of more cash and can permit others, together with non-profits and internationally-recognized resettlement suppliers, to use to do that vital work, and ensures we’re utilizing metropolis funds effectively and successfully,” Camille Joseph Varlack, chief of employees for the mayor, mentioned in a press release.
The town has different ongoing contracts with DocGo and can proceed to work with the corporate in these offers.
In a press release, a DocGo spokesperson mentioned the corporate is “immensely happy with the distinctive work that our workforce has completed and continues to carry out in aiding the Metropolis’s response to this unprecedented disaster.”
New York has struggled to deal with an inflow of worldwide migrants who’ve arrived within the metropolis since 2022, with greater than 187,000 folks coming by its consumption system searching for shelter.
Politico first reported the information of town declining to resume its contract with DocGo.
