San Francisco Audit Finds Tajel Shah Steered $7 Million Contract to Friend's Firm
Updated
Updated · Mission Local · Jun 23
San Francisco Audit Finds Tajel Shah Steered $7 Million Contract to Friend's Firm
1 articles · Updated · Mission Local · Jun 23
Summary
$7 million in business-tax software work was improperly steered to Mechanical Orchard after former chief assistant treasurer Tajel Shah bypassed ethics and procurement rules, a joint city investigation found Tuesday.
A $65,000 discovery project gave the company an inside track: Shah shared nonpublic information, skipped qualification checks, changed scoring to lift Mechanical Orchard, and inflated rivals' costs, according to the audit.
The report also cited undisclosed ties between Shah and then-Chief Revenue Officer Roque Versace, while subcontractor Ratio PBC later hired Shah's niece, adding to the conflict-of-interest concerns.
City investigators said weak internal checks enabled the misconduct, describing Shah's management style as intimidating and discouraging staff from raising concerns through HR.
Mechanical Orchard withdrew from contract talks before the allegations became public last year; Shah was later released, the original contract will be closed, and the city says it will restart bidding.