Senators Call for Raimondo to Comply with Minority Contracting Law When Decommissioning Field Hosps

Senators Call for Raimondo to Comply with Minority Contracting Law When Decommissioning Field Hosps

The Raimondo administration came under fire for spending tens of millions of dollars on three field hospitals last spring, but ignoring minority contracting requirements.

As the state moves forward with decommissioning two of three hospitals, State Senators Sandra Cano and Ana Quezada are calling upon Governor Gina Raimondo to ensure that the state complies with minority contracting laws.

The two senators pointed out that Rhode Island spent $34 million to construct and equip the three field hospitals, and not a single dollar went to a minority-owned Rhode Island company. By law, 10 percent of all state construction and service contracts must be awarded to minority-owned companies that have completed a rigorous state certification process, but as an emergency measure, those contracts were exempt from the requirement.

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“The coronavirus pandemic has hurt all sectors of our economy, particularly small businesses. Meanwhile, the illness itself has disproportionately affected minority communities. It is always important to follow the laws that require the state to include minority contractors, but at this time it is even more critical, economically and morally,” said Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket). “Hiring minority-owned businesses – which also tend to hire more minority employees—will save some of the most at-risk small businesses and jobs, helping our communities weather this storm. It’s a smart way to makes sure our state resources do the most good.”

The State Properties Committee is set to meet Tuesday morning to take steps toward decommissioning the surge hospitals that were set up in the spring at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence and at a former Lowe’s in North Kingstown to handle patients if local hospitals became overwhelmed. That scenario, fortunately, did not play out. The state plans to leave the third surge hospital in Cranston set up for now, in case its use becomes necessary. 

“There are hundreds of minority-owned business enterprises on the state’s master list of vendors, and they deserve to be considered for these valuable contracts. We have the 10-percent law for a reason. Rhode Island is a place where inclusivity is valued. Our state dollars must be spent in a way that reflects those values and lifts up communities that have, historically, often been left out,” said Quezada (D-Dist. 2, Providence).

Senators Quezada and Cano said the state must do better to comply with the letter and the spirit of the law as the hospitals are decommissioned.