What are State Contracts and How to Bid on Them

Bob BeauregardAssistant Director

Cooperative PurchasingDivision of Purchase and Property (DPP)

609.984.2084Robert.Beauregard@treas.state.nj.us

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Ways That Goods/Services are Purchased in the State of NJ

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•Request for Proposal (RFP)•Delegated Purchasing Authority (DPA)•$0.00 to $1000 = Low Dollar Order (LDO)No bids needed•$1001 to $17,500 = 3 quotes needed•$17,501 to $36,000 = 3 sealed quotes

•Waivers = usually awarded via Request for Quote (RFQ). Always ends in a Waivered Contract. Not advertised.

Key to Understanding State Contracts

• In-general, the State issues “Term” contracts which means that there is a set length of time to the contract.

• Only certain term contracts are cooperative.• Contracts can be found at: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/purchase/• Sometimes, we issue a contract for a one-time buy and thus, no T-

number is assigned.• Under each term contract, there are supplier contract numbers (5

digit, used to start with the letter “A”).• Term contracts are 4 digits and start with:– T = term contract– G = GSA schedule that has been promulgated– M = contract promulgated from a nationally recognized cooperative

purchasing organization– S = supplemental contract to an already awarded term contract

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Who May Use State Cooperative Purchasing Contracts?

• MUNICIPALITIES• COUNTIES• SCHOOL DISTRICTS• VOLUTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS• VOLUNTEER FIRST AID OR RESCUE SQUADS• COUNTY AND STATE COLLEGES• INDEPENDENT AUTHORITIES• QUASI-STATE AGENCIES• INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

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Final Thoughts

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•Must/Will vs Should/May•Forms, forms, forms•Sign, sign, sign•Evaluations varies, READ your RFP•Don’t leave blanks

Thank You!

Questions?

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