Department of Mental Health officials had lots of explaining to do as a procurement appeals hearing was held this morning regarding the agency's attempt to award a contract for therapeutic group home services.  Latte Treatment Center filed an appeal of the department's intent to award the contract to Indiana-based Dr. Marc Zackheim and the Associates of Clinical Psychology.
 
There have been concerns that Mental Health failed to follow procurement rules and regulations and allegations were made that the multiple RFPs were changed to cater to Zackheim, whose group homes in Indiana was raided by the FBI in July of last year.
 
Children's services administrator Annie Unpingco was questioned today by Attorney Tom Fisher about her visit to Zackheim's group homes, a trip that the clinical psychologist told KUAM News he paid for.  "You have no recollection of him paying an additional leg or additional ticket or increase in price for you to stop in Chicago?" Unpingco was asked, to which she replied, "I don't recall that."
 
She was also asked if she knew the whereabouts for the procurement record for the RFP. Ewhich she said she did not.  Said Fisher, "Do you know if the Department of Mental Health created a procurement record?"  "I would think so, but I don't know where it is or who has it," Unpingco said.  
 
Fisher also informed Unpingco that Mental Health failed to produce any procurement records.  The procurement for the therapeutic group home services will be reviewed with a decision to be rendered at a later time.