Ohio Turnpike improperly solicited, monitored engineering contracts, state investigation finds

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission staff violated state law and its own policies by failing to properly solicit and monitor lucrative contracts awarded to engineering firms, according to the state’s watchdog agency.

A 142-page report released Tuesday by the Ohio inspector general’s office details how turnpike staff did not publicly solicit competitive bids for a number of professional design contracts in 2019 and 2020 worth over $50,000, as required by law and turnpike policy.