No Background Checks for Disabled Students’ Bus Drivers
<p style="line-height: 20.7999992370605px;"><span style="line-height: 1.6em;">The AGCBA said the transportation controls for special educational facilities are "insufficient" and sometimes "nonexistent." The contract carriers are not required to submit a criminal record of drivers and security guards. Reports and non-compliance fines are not mandatory. Of the sample requested by the watchdog less than 12% was delivered.</span></p> <div> </div>
The Auditor General of the City of Buenos Aires (AGCBA, for its acronym in Spanish) analyzed only a small portion of the School Inclusion Program of the Ministry of the City of Buenos Aires. Despite the limited information received, the agency found that there was no control for drivers who transport people with disabilities who attend public schools, in relation to this program.
As a watchdog, the Audit should have access to the information they require. But in this case they did not; they only received details of $ 2 million (12%) of the $ 17,079,533 that had been requested for analysis on recruitment program for transportation, shuttle service, renting premises, food service, and location. The information received only allowed to audit regarding recruitment service transportation for children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities.
The AGCBA’s report published this year on 2010 data, indicates that "the only requirement for the bidders is to provide the bus -filing affidavits on the number of vehicles" at their disposal. That is, the only requirement for shuttle contractor is formally clarify how many busses are available. The watchdog said the "oversight and control of the obligations of those bidders are insufficient and in some cases non-existent" and that "the control structure is based on sworn statements made by bidders that are not proven through inspections".
The report also indicates that there is no demand, for example, for "criminal record certificates of drivers and security guards." The Audit also added that "there was evidence that the Tender Evaluation Committee has requested reports on the application of fines, penalties, and / or breaches of the bidders prior to the pre award". In fact, 100% of the bids to cover the shuttle lacked "evidence that account for roadworthiness" of the units declared.
At the moment the company starts to provide services, the bidding terms and conditions establishes the inspection of vehicles, but does not specify which area should perform this inspection, so this feature was "delegated to schools" as well as the "verification of the documentation related to drivers." According to the AGCBA because of the lack of verification mechanisms referred to the affidavits submitted by the contractors, "did not anticipate the possibility of applying penalties for false test data."
Restricted Access to Information
According to what was expressed in the report, the AGN did not receive all of the required information: "they could not study 88% of the sample" on contracts of the Vacation School Program 2010 and the Operational Directorate of Educational and Recreational Extension, they could analyze the total amount $ 15,031,523 ($ 17,079,533) representing the selected records.
Only two of the five records required by the Buenos Aires Audit (Car Hire / Shuttle and Location Services) and a third (rental properties) were delivered, it was an "uncertified copy." Therefore, the watchdog concluded that they were "unable to perform a complete analysis and adequate control of the recruitment process."