Maddie,

On November 21, 2022, NB rejected the second round of bids for the prefab storage buildings.

WHEREAS, the Northern Burlington County Regional Board of Education (“Board”) has previously authorized the construction of five (5) prefabricated athletic storage facilities located throughout the campuses of the Northern Burlington County Regional High School and Middle School (“Project”); and

WHEREAS, the Board has solicited bids for the Project which were received and opened on September 7, 2022; however, the first round bids were rejected on September 12, 2022 (Resolution No. 7.06) pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-22(a), as the lowest bid substantially exceeded the Project Engineer’s cost estimate; and

WHEREAS, on September 19, 2022, the Board re-solicited bids with the same Scope of Work and Specifications for the Project which were received and opened on November 3, 2022; and

WHEREAS, the Project Engineer modified the Project Cost Estimate from Three Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Dollars ($316,000) in the first round to Three Hundred and Seventeen Thousand Dollars ($317,000) for the second round of bidding; and

WHEREAS, the lowest bid of Joseph Porretta Builders, Inc., in the amount of Four Hundred and Fifty Hundred Dollars ($450,000), substantially exceeded the Project Engineer’s cost estimate for the scope of work; and

WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-22(a) permits the Board to reject all bids because the lowest bid substantially exceeds the cost estimates for the Project; and

WHEREAS, the Board has twice solicited bids for the Project, and both attempts to secure a reasonable price to perform the required work through the public bidding process resulted in bids well over the Board’s estimate for performing such work; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-5(c), the Board is authorized to negotiate with the bidders in an effort to develop a pricing structure that would more closely comport with the Board’s cost projections; and

WHEREAS, the Board shall notify each responsible bidder submitting bids on the second bid round of its desire to negotiate and afford each bidder a reasonable opportunity to negotiate, pursuant to, and consistent with N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-5(c); and

WHEREAS, the timing of the Project is critical insofar as specific work must be performed this winter; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary for the Board to reject all bids and negotiate directly with a contractor or contractors to enter into a contract to perform the Project.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Education of the Northern Burlington Regional School District that the Board is authorized to reject all bids received on November 3, 2022 for the Project under N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-22(a); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board is authorized to negotiate and enter a contract for the Project pursuant to, and consistent with N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-5(c); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that award of any contract pursuant to negotiations shall only become effective upon approval upon the adoption of a Resolution of a two-thirds affirmative vote of the authorized membership of the Board.

Sincerely,

Richard J. Kaz Jr.
School Business Administrator/
School Board Secretary
609-298-3900  ext.# 2080

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