The guy who uncovered the malfeasance was fired but then allowed to share in the $17M because he exposed the corruption. Beyond Kafkaesque.

Isn't it being renewed for a very long time, beyond just one year?
And why didn't they start to look for other options, including building kitchens in the schools, when they started the suit against Chartswells??????

How long ago did they sue that vendor? How can they be so complacent to sue a crooked abusive vendor yet take no steps to free DCPS children from having to eat the rotting overpriced disgusting slop?

Anonymous wrote:I heard Kaya on Kojo last week and this came up. She said there is just no way to get a new vendor in this quickly. I have to admit, having worked with DC govt, she's right. The procurement rules really suck. If she brought someone in right now, Chartwell's could sue DCPS. A sole source contract would be tough also. Who can do a job this big? With weeks of notice. Seriously?

Now, if it is renewed for next year, there is a problem. They have a year to get it right.

Has there been any talks about getting a new vendor after the upcoming school year?

I heard Kaya on Kojo last week and this came up. She said there is just no way to get a new vendor in this quickly. I have to admit, having worked with DC govt, she's right. The procurement rules really suck. If she brought someone in right now, Chartwell's could sue DCPS. A sole source contract would be tough also. Who can do a job this big? With weeks of notice. Seriously?

Now, if it is renewed for next year, there is a problem. They have a year to get it right.

This really is appalling. Both to renew contract and to have no viable alternative vendor tbat could step in for the summer. I get it - would take weeks of not months to let a new contract. But just wrong on so many levels.

Anonymous wrote:I guess this is a DC Government thing. How can you knowningly keep a contract with a business that has defrauded your organization?

No, not just a DC government thing. I remember when Bectel and Haliburton were defrauded the feds.

If you want to write to the council, I believe these are the correct address. You could write to them all, or if not then to the chairman, at large, and your ward rep.

Chairman:
pmendelson@dccouncil.us

At large:
vorange@dccouncil.us
esilverman@dccouncil.us
dgrosso@dccouncil.us
abonds@dccouncil.us

Ward 1:
bnadeau@dccouncil.us

Ward 2:
jevans@dccouncil.us

Ward 3:
mcheh@dccouncil.us

Ward 4:
btodd@dccouncil.us

Ward 5:
kmcduffie@dccouncil.us

Ward 6:
callen@dccouncil.us

Ward 7:
yalexander@dccouncil.us

Ward 8:
lmay@dccouncil.us

I'm writing to the city council now. I can't believe Grosso in the article.

Jeezus. >

Just keep those kickbacks coming! Chartwells is owned by a UK conglomerate (Compass) and they're not above breaking local laws.

Anonymous wrote:this is ridiculous. they had to pay back 17 million dollars because of mismanagement and kids say the food is bad. were there no other contracts presented?

They have been settling similar suits and paying back to school districts around the country for years. DCPS isn't even the first. The article cites New York City, but I've read about others.

this is ridiculous. they had to pay back 17 million dollars because of mismanagement and kids say the food is bad. were there no other contracts presented?

I guess this is a DC Government thing. How can you knowningly keep a contract with a business that has defrauded your organization?

That makes me ill. And angry. (the opposite of hangry).

DCPS had better start giving some priority back to the funding of kitchens into the construction/renovations budgets of schools. My DCPS wouldn't need to be any part of this Chartswell disgusting scam if we had a functioning kitchen.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dc-schools-food-vendor-at-center-of-fraud-lawsuit-poised-for-new-contract/2015/06/28/6b9cd626-1b58-11e5-bd7f-4611a60dd8e5_story.html