ASSEMBLY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4528

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  AUGUST 13, 2020

      The Assembly State and Local Government Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4528.

      This bill revises certain aspects of the State procurement process and permits auction or reverse auction procedures.

      Under current law, a person or entity that submits a bid or proposal, or otherwise proposes to enter into or renew a contract to certify, must do so at the time the bid is submitted or the contract is renewed.  This bill revises the process to require a person or entity to certify prior to the time a contract is awarded and at the time the contract is renewed.

      This bill also permits the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property to structure an advertisement for bids to include an auction or reverse auction procedure.  The procedure will be related to the procurement of goods, services, or both, whereby pricing is revealed to all other qualified bidders during the course of the auction or reverse auction.  The director would determine whether to utilize an auction or reverse auction dependent on if that procedure would result in bids being more advantageous to the State, price and other factors considered.