Tennesseans grilled about testing pact

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee officials are getting questions from Republican and Democratic lawmakers for entering into a $26.5 million state contract for faulty coronavirus testing and other services before rejecting the deal after having spent $5.9 million on the services provided.

Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey and other officials appeared Thursday in front of the Legislature’s Fiscal Review Committee to answer questions about the no-bid contract with Nomi Health.

The contract, which state officials signed May 1, was first revealed by WTVF-TV. Email records showed some lab experts with the state Department of Health had objected to the contract. The emails also showed that a Republican consultant pitched the company to GOP Gov. Bill Lee’s chief of staff.

However, Tennessee officials later determined the covid-19 tests’ ability to pick up on positive samples was not up to the state’s standards and ended the contract with the Utah company on June 12.

The company refused to refund $5.9 million of items, including personal protective equipment, technology and hardware setup and a management fee.

Piercey told lawmakers that the state had been flooded with proposals in the spring for covid-19 supplies as governments scrambled to find amid shortages. Piercey said Nomi was the only vendor who included personal protective equipment with the package. But, the equipment ended up including veterinary wipes and arm-length gloves for the birth of livestock.

Republican Rep. Michael Curcio of Dickson, among others, raised concerns about state processes to prevent wasted taxpayer money.

Piercey said she did seek additional input outside of the publicized back-and-forth in the emails.