Newsom Faces Questions Over $6.2M Diaper Contract
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration released the contract for the state’s $6.2 million diaper program after questions about how the deal was awarded and why it was not made public sooner.
The agreement with nonprofit Baby2Baby is expected to provide families of newborns with 400 free diapers at participating hospitals across California.
The contract drew attention after Newsom said in May that it had gone through a “competitive bidding process.” However, the state’s contract database describes the agreement as “NON-COMPETITIVELY BID,” according to CBS California Investigates.
State officials did not seek formal bids. Instead, they asked interested organizations to respond to a “Request for Information.” That document said it was “not a solicitation” and that prices submitted by organizations would not count as bids.
Newsom’s office defended the process. Officials said 15 groups responded and that the state reviewed them based on cost, along with their ability to produce and distribute diapers.
“The governor was referring to the process being competitive in nature, which remains accurate,” Newsom’s office told the outlet.
Still, the records reportedly did not include scoring sheets, rankings or clear standards showing how the groups were evaluated. Several applicants also said they did not learn they were out of consideration until Newsom announced the Baby2Baby partnership.
- Contract value: $6.2 million
- Selected organization: Baby2Baby
- Planned benefit: 400 free diapers for families of newborns
- Responses received: 15 organizations
California’s 2025 budget exempted the diaper program from normal bidding rules and other state review requirements, according to the report. CBS California Investigates also found more than two dozen similar exemptions in the state budget. Together, those exemptions covered more than $1 billion in spending, and about two-thirds reportedly do not expire.
The state released the Baby2Baby contract on July 17, 66 days after the outlet filed a public-records request. The governor’s office said the delay was needed to “grant our legal team adequate time to process and work on these requests,” according to CBS Investigates.
The agreement reportedly marks at least the third time Baby2Baby has received California funding without a competitive bid.
The nonprofit also has a connection to the Newsom administration. Baby2Baby co-CEO Norah Weinstein serves on the board of the California Partners Project, which was founded by first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
Newsom’s office and Baby2Baby did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.