NJ Atty General to investigate Wireless Generation

APP.com: Dow to look at consultant contract

Something useful did come out of the Assembly Democrats’ hearing on the Race to the Top application error. Republicans asked Attorney General Paula Dow to investigate the state-hired consultant, Wireless Generation, and the Attorney General’s Office says it will look at the contract which was worth more than $500,000. Dan Gohl, one of the state’s representatives, testified he told Wireless Generation that an error was made in the state’s application but was informed by Wireless Generation that nothing could be done about it because the deadline had passed. “While it appears the changes were initiated at Commissioner Schundler’s request, there is no indication Wireless advised the commissioner his proposed edits would render the answer non-responsive to the question.  In so doing, Wireless failed to assure the technical accuracy of the application in violation of their contract,” Republicans wrote Dow. They want to know if Wireless Generation fulfilled its obligations.

Wireless Generation, based in Brooklyn, got a contract from the Corzine administration because the Education Department said it was the best qualified, although not the lowest bidder. That contract expired and the Christie administration hired Wireless to help with Phase Two of the application.