SENATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 1636

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED: JANUARY 14, 1997

 

      The Senate Community Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1636.

      This bill, as amended by the committee, would make certain changes in the requirements for notification of revisions or addenda to advertisements or bid documents for contracts under the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.).

      The bill, as amended, would require that five days prior to the date for acceptance of bids, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays excepted, notification of revisions or addenda to advertisements or bid documents for all contracts, except those for construction work and municipal solid waste collection and disposal service, be published in an official newspaper of the contracting unit and be sent to any person who has submitted a bid or received a bid package, either in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by facsimile transmission with return facsimile receipt, or by next day delivery carrier. Contracts for construction work would require the same notice, over seven instead of five days, except for that of publication in a newspaper. Contracts for solid waste collection and disposal would require only newspaper publication in two newspapers as designated by the bill.

      The committee amended the bill to distinguish between the types of notice required and the types of contracts made.

      Current law does not distinguish between construction bids and non-construction bids and requires that, no later than five days prior to the date for acceptance of bids, such notification be published in a legal newspaper and be made available in writing by certified mail to any person who has submitted a bid or who has received a bid package.

      The effective date of the bill provides that it shall not take effect until the first day of the fourth month next following enactment, in order to permit time for local contracting units and contractors to be made aware of the new procedure.

      This bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 1706 (2R) with Senate committee amendments also reported by this committee on January 14, 1997.