The top contracting adviser to D.C. school construction czar Allen Lew is the son-in-law of an executive whose company has netted tens of millions in contracts from Lew’s agency, The Examiner has learned.
As the leading procurement consultant in Lew’s agency, Thomas D. Bridenbaugh has broad authority over lucrative deals in the $2 billion-plus school facilities agency.
He is also the husband to Rachel Engers, daughter of Turner Construction manager Tom Engers. The couple were married in July 2005.
Tom Engers has been one of Lew’s go-to contractors for more than a decade. He works out of a trailer near the Nationals stadium site, next to Lew’s trailer.
Lew told The Examiner Bridenbaugh has disclosed the relationship and has occasionally recused himself from contracts.
Since the Engers-Bridenbaugh wedding, Turner has been awarded more than $30 million in jobs by Lew’s agency, Lew said.
Sources told The Examiner that staff at Lew’s office, including Chief Financial Officer Bert Molina, have objected to Bridenbaugh’s role, saying that Lew has to guard against the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Molina refused to comment.
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared retribution.
Lew denied a staff rift and said he has always been upfront about Bridenbaugh’s connection to Engers.
Bridenbaugh, Engers and Lew have worked together more than 12 years.
“It’s kind of a weird situation,” Lew said. “Yeah, people could say they see a perceived conflict. I really believe we’ve been able to operate without any compromise.”
District Council Member Phil Mendelson, D-at large, said he is worried about Bridenbaugh’s role.
“They’re asking for trouble,” Mendelson said.
Bridenbaugh did not respond to requests for comment.
Turner is one of two companies handling heating repairs for the city’s schools. The Examiner reported last week that Turner has been granted nearly $6 million in cost overruns for the project — almost four times the original contract amount.
Engers said his firm has also lost bids since his daughter married Bridenbaugh.
“They got married. Nothing I can do about it,” Engers said. “A lot of people are doing a lot of hard work. You ought to focus on that.”
Lew said that he “was kind of stunned” by Bridenbaugh’s marriage. But “Bridenbaugh and Engers are the hardest-working people I have,” he said.
