Bill > A5544

Introduced Session

This bill provides that whenever bids are considered on any State contract for the purchase of goods or services that is publicly advertised for bids the bidders shall be listed in order based upon which bid, conforming to the invitation for bids, would be most advantageous to the State, price and other factors considered. If the first bidder on the list has its principal place of business in this State it shall be awarded the contract. If no bidder having its principal place of business in this State has submitted a bid that is within five percent of the bid submitted by the bidder at the top of the list that has its principal place of business outside of this State, the contract will be awarded to the bidder at the top of the list. If the first bidder on the list has its principal place of business outside of this State and a bidder that has its principal place of business in this State is on the list and has submitted a bid that is within five percent of the bid submitted by the bidder at the top of the list that has its principal place of business outside of this State, the contract will be awarded to that in-State bidder. The bill permits large State contracts to be unbundled to allow New Jersey businesses who may not have the capacity to compete for the entire award an opportunity to compete for part of the award. Plans and specifications for the provision of goods or services under this bill will be drafted in a manner to encourage free, open and competitive bidding.

Committee Categories

Edward Thomson (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 06/10/2019)

Official Document