Database aims for secure contracts
Source: By JAMES M. ODATO, Albany Times Union (NY), Thursday, March 9, 2006
ALBANY -- Comptroller Alan Hevesi is pushing prospective contractors to put their histories into a new centralized computer database if they hope to get state work. In an effort to weed out corrupt and unworthy business partners, Hevesi hopes state agencies will use his office's new $4.8 million system to check backgrounds provided by the companies seeking state contracts. ...... Hevesi said the comptroller's office is paying for the system. Called VendRep, it will be loaded with data from an online questionnaire vendors will be asked to fill out, probably starting in tember. State agencies would be expected to examine the database before awarding contracts.