This bill amends the Local Public Contracts Law in New Jersey to increase the maximum contract amount for which a local contracting unit's governing body can authorize an employee to award a contract without public bidding from $17,500 to $22,000. This change allows for greater flexibility in contract awards, as it enables designated employees, regardless of whether they hold a qualified purchasing agent certificate, to award contracts below this new threshold without the need for public advertising. Additionally, if a contracting unit has a bid threshold exceeding $22,000, it can delegate the authority to award contracts valued between $22,000 and the established bid threshold to a qualified purchasing agent.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the provisions regarding the bid threshold for contracting units that do not have a purchasing agent with a qualified certificate. It removes the previous stipulation that set the bid threshold at $17,500 until the individual obtained the necessary certification, instead allowing the threshold to be set at the amount authorized under the new provisions. This legislative change aims to streamline the contracting process for local governments and enhance operational efficiency by allowing for more contracts to be awarded without the lengthy public bidding process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40A:11-3, 40A:11-9