Impossible to track recovery contracts

On September 16, 2019, the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo (CPI) published that following the trail of the Government’s recovery contracts is “mission impossible”: there is no centralized registry; COR3, Housing and the Board show scattered pieces, and contracts or amendments are missing from the Comptroller’s Registry. On COR3’s page only four 2018 contracts appeared.

With the information available, the CPI reviewed the top 20 contracts. ICF Incorporated leads with ~$363 million in two contracts: COR3 started at $188 million and in May 2019 the Board approved raising it to $338 million; Housing gave it $25 million as R3/CDBG-DR manager in July. In Louisiana, ICF had been fined more than $1 million on Road Home after Katrina/Rita (a contract that reached $900 million). Byrne, former FEMA coordinator in Puerto Rico, was a senior VP at ICF (2006–2010) and in May moved to Deloitte, another favored firm. Gil Enseñat said he did not know the Louisiana record and cited HUD/SAM lists; the CPI found that 4 Contractors JV and Link Active did not appear in SAM.

Tied for second: FR-BLDM, Yates-Bird and SLS Co. Ltd. — $250 million each in Tu Hogar Renace. SLS also obtained $60 million with DTOP for debris/recycling after María and federal wall contracts. Foundation for Puerto Rico: $37 million with Housing in early 2019, absent from the Comptroller’s Registry. Deloitte: $31 million with COR3.

Obligated/assigned in a contract is not disbursed. A Louisiana fine is not a ruling in Puerto Rico.