State investigators say a former manager at the Georgia Building Authority steered a food services contract to a friend's company. The contract paid about $1.8 million in less than three years.

The investigation by the Office of Inspector General also found that many of that company's employees also worked for the building authority and that it was hard to determine if the state was being double-billed for their work.

Building authority officials said Dwayne Robinson, former director of food services for the Georgia Building Authority's cafeteria and events operation and an 18-year state employee, was terminated for his involvement.

The inspector general's office concluded that Robinson steered a contract for temporary food services staffing to PSM, a company run by a longtime friend, Kenneth Henderson, according to a report released Thursday.

Robinson could not be reached for comment.

During the first year of the contract, which began in 2004, PSM was paid more than twice what it bid to provide the services, the report said.

The inspector general's office had trouble determining whether the state was being double-billed for employees because time cards were either destroyed or employees didn't properly use the time cards.

The investigation also said that Robinson had state food services employees make meals for him to take home.

Investigators also found that another former supervisor steered banquet clients to a beverage vendor that employed her son, sister and niece. Such steering of vendors is against GBA regulations.

The full inspector general's report can be found at www.oig.georgia.gov under the section "Reports of Investigation."