Public Advocate Letitia James is demanding that the Department of Education withdraw a potential billion-dollar contract with a computer firm that was implicated in a kickback scandal doing similar work for the city.
As The Post first reported, Custom Computer Specialists could earn more than $1 billion over the life of a contract set for approval by the Panel for Educational Policy Wednesday to provide Internet upgrades at public schools.
The Long Island firm was cited by city investigators in 2011 for turning a blind eye to — and benefiting from — years of theft and fraud by a crooked schools contractor.
“I am calling on the Department of Education to pull back a contract with Custom Computer Specialists — a firm that has been involved in payoff and corruption scandals,” James told The Post.
DOE officials defended the lucrative deal, arguing that the firm submitted a “corrective action plan” in 2012 and that safeguards have been put in place.
They also said the contract must be registered by March 23 or else nearly $25 million in federal funds would be jeopardized for the coming fiscal year.
Officials at the firm didn’t respond to requests for comment.