HARRISBURG – Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny) today expressed dismay that the Pennsylvania Department of Health has still not answered her Right-to-Know request filed on Aug. 18 asking for information about the COVID Alert PA contact tracing app.
On Tuesday, the Wolf administration unveiled the app to the public and encouraged residents to use it to fight the spread of COVID-19.
“The Right-to-Know law requires some type of response within 30 days,” Gaydos said. “We are beyond the time limit set. I am troubled and frankly disgusted that the Wolf administration contracted with an overseas company for the app when we have a number of United States technology companies capable of this work. During this pandemic, millions upon millions of people are out of work, and Wolf is taking what would be good-paying jobs and shipping them to an overseas company. That is irresponsible!”
Gaydos’ Right-to-Know request asked for the request for proposal (RFP) the administration used when selecting the contact tracing app vendor along with any copies of correspondence, notes, emails, presentations and reference material related to the app and the software developer Nearform Limited, an Ireland-based company.
“During a call with the Department of Health on Tuesday, I learned the administration claims it spoke to 24 vendors about the app,” Gaydos said. “The department should disclose who these vendors were. In addition, I learned an RFP was not issued. The governor and Department of Health claim one was not needed due to the emergency disaster declaration. It appears they are taking advantage of the declaration to bypass important processes that are vital to good government. I am shocked by their brazen actions.”
Gaydos has been in contact with House Republican Leadership to request an immediate hearing on this topic.