Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 6, March 18, 2024
(a) Publicly announced receipt of bids or competitive contracting proposals shall be considered cancelled when the contracting unit must amend or modify the bid specifications and cannot meet the requirements of 40A:11-23 and 18A:18A-21. The following procedures shall be used in the event a contracting unit cancels the receipt of publicly advertised bids or competitive contracting proposals:
1. All vendors who have either submitted bids or proposals, or received specifications or request for proposals, shall be notified by telephone, fax, or e-mail that the receipt thereof has been cancelled, the reason therefore, and notification regarding the return of the unopened bids pursuant to this section.
2. The contracting unit shall allow vendors to retrieve bids or proposals that had been:
i. Submitted at or before the time of cancellation;
ii. Previously sent but had not arrived by the time of cancellation; or
iii. For those not picked up by a vendor within 10 business days of being notified of their availability, the contracting unit shall return them, unopened, by certified mail or other delivery service that provides a delivery receipt.
3. On the day and time originally scheduled for receipt of bids or proposals, a notice shall be posted at the place where bids were to have been received, stating that the receipt of bids or proposals has been cancelled. No bids or proposals are to be received at this time.
4. All advertisements for the receipt of rescheduled bids or proposals must adhere to the requirements of 40A:11-23 or 18A:18A-21, as appropriate to the contracting unit for the statutory number of days between notice and when new bids or proposals can be received.
(b) Publicly announced receipt of bids or competitive contracting proposals shall be considered postponed when an unforeseen circumstance occurs that would affect or prohibit the opening of bids or proposals. The opening of the bids or proposals must occur within five days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, of the original date of the receipt of bids or proposals. The following procedures shall be used in the event a contracting unit must postpone the receipt of publicly advertised bids or competitive contracting proposals:
1. As soon as practicable, all vendors who have either submitted bids or proposals, or received specifications or request for proposals, shall be notified by telephone, fax, or e-mail that the receipt thereof has been postponed and the reason therefore.
2. If possible, on the day and time originally scheduled for receipt of bids or proposals, a notice shall be posted at the place where bids were to have been received, stating that the receipt of bids or proposals has been postponed.
3. In the event of a postponement, no bids or proposals shall be opened.
