This is a perfect example of fake news. Deep down there is a story of incompetence and duress on the part of NY State, but instead it’s presented to the public as yet another made up anti-Trump circle jerk.
2. "The White House Coronavirus Task Force was never informed of this contract" does not actually deny having recommended the vendor to NY. It's a pretty careful wording that doesn't actually contradict the article at all.
By truncating the rest of the quoted text you’re further proving my point of the fake news circle jerk. The full quote from the article that you selectively truncated is (emphasis mine):
>> "The White House Coronavirus Task Force was never informed of this contract and was not involved in it at all."
My layman’s reading of “not involved at all” would cover denying recommending the vendor.
I don't know why it doesn't look like it to you, but I see lawyer speak, not layman speak.
“We recommended the vendor and put them in touch with NY, then washed our hands of it” fits just fine with the wording there.
None of that excuses NY from doing due diligence, but I'm just saying I wouldn't jump to conclusions about who told whom what.