Title
Dept/ Agency: Economic and Housing Development
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Rejection of Bids and Re-Advertisement of Public Bid Solicitation
Purpose: A resolution authorizing the rejection of all bids received for the Newark Pedestrian Safe Street Project (Packages A, B, C, and D) and authorizing the re-advertisement of the Project under a revised solicitation structure.
Entity Name: N/A
Entity Address: N/A
Contract Amount: N/A
Funding Source:
Contract Basis: ( X ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale ( ) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
List of Property:
Package A: Broad Street between Bridge Street and Lombardy Street
Package B: University Avenue and Orange Street, at University Avenue and James Street, at University Avenue and Central Avenue, and at Central Avenue and Halsey Street
Package C: Washington Street from Broad Street to Raymond Boulevard
Package D: Broad Street between Bridge Street and Lombardy Street
body
WHEREAS, the City of Newark (the “City”), through its Department of Economic and Housing Development and Division of Central Purchasing, publicly advertised for bids for the Newark Pedestrian Safe Street Project (the “Project”), which was divided into four (4) separate bid packages, identified as Package A, Package B, Package C, and Package D; and
WHEREAS, Package A of the Project consists of improvements, including new pedestrian crosswalk configurations and a raised planted median on Mayor Kenneth Gibson Boulevard between Bridge Street and Lombardy Street; and
WHEREAS, Package B of the Project consists of improvements, including new pedestrian crosswalk configurations, minor configurations to traffic and parking lanes, pedestrian protection measures, and bike lane modifications, with improvements located at University Avenue and Orange Street, University Avenue and James Street, University Avenue and Central Avenue, and Central Avenue and Halsey Street; and
WHEREAS, Package C of the Project consists of improvements, including pedestrian crosswalk configurations, minor reconfigurations to traffic and parking lanes, pedestrian protection measures, and bike lane modifications, including improvements on Washington Street from Broad Street to Raymond Boulevard; and
WHEREAS, Package D of the Project consists of improvements, including new pedestrian crosswalk configurations and a raised planted median on Broad Street between Bridge Street and Lombardy Street; and
WHEREAS, bids were received and publicly opened in accordance with the requirements of the Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq., for each of the four (4) bid packages; and
WHEREAS, the Project is being funded, in whole or in part, through grant funding that is subject to an expenditure deadline of December 2026, and the City has determined that a more efficient and coordinated procurement structure is necessary to ensure timely completion of the Project, avoid potential delays associated with multiple contracts, and ensure compliance with applicable funding requirements; and
WHEREAS, upon review, the City has determined that the current procurement structure, which separates the Project into multiple bid packages, may not best serve the City’s interests with respect to project coordination, administrative efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and timely completion of the Project; and
WHEREAS, the City has further determined that it is in the public interest to revise the procurement approach for the Project, including consideration of consolidating the work into a single solicitation or otherwise restructuring the scope of work to better achieve the City’s objectives; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-13.2(d), a contracting unit may reject all bids when it determines to substantially revise the specifications for the goods or services; and
WHEREAS, the City intends to substantially revise the specifications for the Project by restructuring the current multi-package procurement into a consolidated solicitation, which will combine the scope of work previously divided among Packages A, B, C, and D into a unified contract, thereby modifying the overall scope, coordination requirements, contractor responsibilities, and pricing structure for the Project; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to reject all bids received for the Project and to re-advertise the Project under a revised solicitation that reflects the City’s updated procurement strategy;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. All bids received for the Newark Pedestrian Safe Street Project, including Packages A, B, C, and D, are hereby rejected pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-13.2(d).
2. The appropriate City officials are hereby authorized and directed to revise the specifications and procurement structure for the Project, including but not limited to consolidating the scope of work into a single solicitation or otherwise restructuring the bid packages, as deemed appropriate.
3. The appropriate City officials are further authorized to re-advertise the Project for bids in accordance with the Local Public Contracts Law and all applicable regulations.
4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This Resolution authorizes the Municipal Council of the City of Newark to reject all bids received for the Newark Pedestrian Safe Street Project, including Packages A, B, C, and D, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-13.2(d), in order to permit the City to substantially revise the specifications for the Project. The City has determined that the current multi-package procurement structure should be revised and the Project will be re-advertised under a new solicitation, which may include consolidation of the work into a single contract, constituting material changes to the scope of work, coordination requirements, and pricing structure. The revised solicitation is intended to improve project efficiency, coordination, and overall administration. This Resolution also authorizes City officials to revise the specifications and procurement structure of the Project for the reasons set forth above and to re-advertise the Project for bids in accordance with the Local Public Contracts Law.