TOWNSHIP'S SNOW REMOVAL CONTRACT AWARD RAISES SOME EYEBROWS

Knowing that they will likely have a need to supplement a portion of the Township’s snow removal services this coming winter, Lakewood's Township Committee planned ahead and has just awarded contracts to 5 companies.

This contract award raises some questions which deserve to be answered.

Back in July 2021, the Township published a request for proposals for their snow removal services. The form asked the companies to list their equipment and hourly rate.

On July 28, 2021, the Township received 3 bids; New Gen Recycling Inc. of Toms River; JR Custom Landscaping of Jackson; and JR Scapes LLC of Allentown.

On August 5, 2021, the Township Committee adopted Resolution 2021-0281 rejecting all 3 bids for the following reason:

WHEREAS, after reviewing the bids, the Public Works Director has determined that the vendors who submitted proposals do not have sufficient equipment needed for the said service, thereby failing to meet the specifications of the bid as "responsive and responsible bidders," and has therefore recommended to the Purchasing Agent that the bids be rejected.

Subsequently the Township published a second request for proposals for their snow removal services.

On August 24, 2021, the Township received 3 bids; New Gen Recycling Inc. of Toms River; JR Scapes LLC of Allentown; and A to Z Site Contractors.

On September 2, 2021, the Township Committee adopted Resolution 2021-0294 rejecting all these 3 bids for the following reason:

WHEREAS, after reviewing the bids, the Public Works Director has determined that the vendors who submitted proposals do not have sufficient equipment needed for the said service, thereby failing to meet the specifications of the bid as responsive and responsible bidders, and has, therefore, recommended to the Purchasing Agent that the bids be rejected.

So... What's the next step?...

N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(3) authorizes the Township to negotiate contracts after the bidding process has been rejected at least two times.

Accordingly, the Township has now negotiated contracts without the formal bidding process.

The Committee has just entered into an agreement with 5 companies for the 2022-2023 winter season with an option for one additional one year contract extension.

The 5 companies are:

ANS Construction

A to Z Site Contractors

Champion Contracting

JR Custom Landscaping

JR Scapes

Hmm... Something looks really odd. The Township previously rejected JR Custom Landscaping, JR Scapes, and A to Z Site Contractors because they "do not have sufficient equipment needed for the service." Did they suddenly acquire "sufficient equipment?"

Is something else weird going on?

Is the Township purposely claiming that they have sufficient cause to reject all the bids just so they renegotiate without the companies needing to follow the red tape for contracts which are bid out?

Is the Township purposely trying to include certain companies while trying to exclude certain other companies?

The people deserve to know!

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