A $68.5 million contract tied to the plan to rebuild parts of the Beltway and I-270 was pulled from consideration before the Maryland Board of Public Works Wednesday over concerns about how the contract was awarded.
Jim Shea, a Democrat running for governor, sent the Board of Public Works, which approves state contracts, a letter outlining his concerns ahead of Wednesday’s meeting. Prime among the concerns of Shea and others is the speed with which the management contract sought by HNTB moved through the Maryland Department of Transportation’s approval process.
The firm was granted a waiver of the state’s usual competitive bid process and gained approval in weeks instead of the months it can typically take. “Nobody wants to delay the overall process,” Shea told WTOP, but he noted that most contract approvals take 18 months or longer. “What’s the hurry-hurry?” he said.
Shea also mentioned the connection between Secretary of Transportation Pete Rahn and HNTB. Rahn worked for the company for five years.
“The process irregularities combined with the closeness of Rahn to the winning bidder, I think that combination is what raises the questions,” Shea said. “These questions need to be answered to make sure the citizens of Maryland get a fair deal.”
Click here to read the rest of the story written by Kate Ryan over at WTOP