Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex)
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Requires State to enter into contract for COVID-19 related goods and services for purchase by school districts.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning a State contract for the purchase of COVID-19 related materials by school districts.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the Director of the Division of Purchase and Property in the Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Department of Education, shall award a contract or contracts, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 34 of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes, for the procurement of COVID-19 related goods and services, as specified by the commissioner, that aid in meeting the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The director, in consultation with the commissioner, may make awards to multiple bidders in accordance with section 1 of P.L.1986, c.26 (C.52:34-12.1). Advertised bidding shall not be required to award a contract or contracts to obtain those goods and services necessary to address the public exigency when the Division of Purchase of Property provides preapproval.
b. The board of education of a school district, without advertising for bids, or after having rejected all bids obtained pursuant to advertising therefor, may purchase COVID-19 related goods and services, upon adoption of a resolution, through the contract or contracts for such goods and services entered into by the Division of Purchase and Property pursuant to the provisions of subsection a. of this section.
c. The Department of Education shall coordinate the purchase of COVID-19 related goods and services by school districts that seek to purchase the goods and services in accordance with subsection b. of this section.
d. As used in this section:
“Board of education” means and includes the board of education of any local school district, consolidated school district, regional school district, county vocational school and any other board of education or other similar body, other than the State Board of Education, the Commission on Higher Education or the Presidents' Council, established and operating under the provisions of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes and having authority to make purchases and to enter into contracts for the provision or performance of goods or services. The term "board of education" also shall include the board of trustees of a charter school established under P.L.1995, c.426 (C.18A:36A-1 et seq.).
“School district” means a local or regional school district established pursuant to chapter 8 or chapter 13 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, a county special services school district established pursuant to article 8 of chapter 46 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, a county vocational school district established pursuant to article 3 of chapter 54 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, and a district under full State intervention pursuant to P.L.1987, c.399 (C.18A:7A-34 et al.).
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on July 1, 2022.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the State to award a contract for the purchase COVID-19 related goods and services by school districts. The goods and services would include medical supplies and devices, among other things. The State would not be limited to awarding contracts to one bidder. If it is deemed advantageous, the State may award contracts to more than one bidder to fill the necessary demand for COVID-19 related goods and services.
School districts throughout the State would then be permitted to purchase the goods and services under the contract. Under the bill, the Commissioner of the Department of Education would be required to coordinate the purchase of goods and services by the school districts.
This bill would expire on July 1, 2022.