COLUMBUS — The Taft administration has bypassed the State Controlling Board and awarded a Cleveland-based company a $27.7 million advance payment for a statewide radio communications system months ahead of schedule, The Columbus Dispatch reported Sunday.

        The payment was arranged after TRW Inc. officials complained about the financial strain caused by more than a year of delays, the newspaper said.

        The state's 1998 contract with TRW for the $328 million system requires that each phase be completed and tested before the company is paid for that part of the work.

        The Ohio Department of Administrative Services agreed to remove that requirement by amending three provisions of the contract, documents show. The changes apply to the first phase only.

        Such revisions usually must be approved at public meetings of the Controlling Board.

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