ABC Action News by Katie LaGrone
August 13, 2020
Editor’s note: Communication Workers of America does not represent Maximus Inc. employees
Florida’s ongoing struggle to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus through contact tracing is getting far more costly to taxpayers.
We’ve learned in less than three months, Florida’s $6 million contract with Virginia-based government contractor, Maximus Inc., has ballooned to $50 million and could reach up to $75 million, according to a Maximus spokesperson.
“As you know, the primary goal is to slow and control the spread of COVID. The contact tracing contracts are all contemplated to be temporary in nature. It is very typical for contracts to have modifications such as an extension to take services beyond the initial contract period or changes in staffing needs to adjust for volumes. Typically for volume-driven contracts like this, there tends to be a range of possible financial scenarios that depend on the level of activities. In this case, the total value will likely range between $65 million and $75 million,” stated Maximus’ spokesperson Lisa Miles in an email.
But the increase in costs over such a short period of time is cause for alarm to Daniel Bass of Communications Workers of America, the nation’s largest communications and media labor union.
“This contract really seems to be shrouded in secrecy,” Bass said.
