The bill amends the County College Contracts Law in New Jersey to enhance the authority of county college boards of trustees regarding the procurement process. Key provisions include the ability to disqualify bidders based on negative past experiences with public institutions of higher education within the last 15 years, ensuring that only responsible bidders are considered for contracts. The bill raises the public bid threshold for contracts not covered by the New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act from $41,600 to $100,000, while maintaining the existing threshold for those that do comply with the Act. It also expands the categories of services exempt from public bidding, including electronic media and consulting services, and allows for the use of reverse auctions for purchasing utilities and commodities.

Additionally, the bill modifies the criteria for awarding contracts, shifting from a strict lowest bid requirement to a more flexible approach that considers the most advantageous bid for the county college. It introduces new definitions and responsibilities, such as including information technology in the definition of materials and supplies, and specifies that contracts for construction must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. The maximum duration for certain contracts is extended from 24 to 36 months, with some contracts allowed for up to five years. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the contracting process while ensuring accountability and transparency in the awarding of contracts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:64A-25.2, 18A:64A-25.3, 18A:64A-25.4, 18A:64A-25.5, 18A:64A-25.6, 18A:64A-25.8, 18A:64A-25.14, 18A:64A-25.19, 18A:64A-25.25, 18A:64A-25.27, 18A:64A-25.28