A prison mental-health company says the reason it lost its contract with Florida's Department of Corrections in April was that a high-ranking DOC official wanted to help a friend get a job with the company that won, News Service of Florida reports.
Lawyers for MHM Correctional Services Inc. say the official -- Dr. Sandeep Rahangdale, deputy secretary for health services -- was trying to help a friend land a job with Correctional Medical Services at the same time he recommended CMS for the $80-million, five-year contract.
CMS spokesman Ken Fields told News Service of Florida in an e-mail that the allegation, made in court filings, is baloney. "This latest allegation is nothing more than a desperate PR stunt that is completely baseless,’’ he wrote.
St. Louis-based CMS was chosen in April to provide mental health services to South Florida prison inmates; current vendor MHM contested the bid. MHM says DOC broke the law by negotiating with CMS in secret.
MHM filed a separate lawsuit over a $6-million purchase order DOC made with CMS that begins July 1, when the current contract with MHM expires.
Leon County Circuit Judge Frank Sheffield is expected to rule this week on whether to block the purchase order.
Rahangdale, whose salary is $172,500, has been deputy secretary since Jan. 31, 2008.
