[brief] This appeal is brought by the third-lowest bidder, Defendant-Appellant [...] (“[...]”), from the Order and Decision issued below by the Honorable [...], A.J.S.C. (“[...]”) on September 30, 2024 affirming the findings and actions taken by the Defendant-Respondent, [...] (“[...]”) in awarding a publicly-bid contract to the second-lowest bidder, Defendant-Respondent, [...]  (“[...]”).  See 0009a-0018a.  On March 13, 2024, the [...] invited contractors to bid on a Project referred to as [...]—Water Storage Improvements Phase 1, Levine Water Tanks, [...] (hereinafter “Contract” or “Project”).  See 0287a, 1495a.  On May 21, 2024, the [...] received and publicly opened bids submitted in response.  See 1336a.  The results were as follows:  1.  [...]  (“[...]”) $40,255,770  2.  [...]  (“[...]”) $41,819,780  3.  [...] (“[...]”) $44,732,529  4. [...] (“[...]”) $49,123,608  5.  [...]  (“[...]”) $50,565,551  See 1336a.  On May 22, 2024, [...] filed a bid challenge demanding that the [...] disqualify the two lowest bids for alleged material, non-waivable, and non- curable defects and award the contract to [...] on the grounds that their bids failed to identify in their respective bids an archaeologist registered under the Public Works Contractor Registration Act, N.J.S.A. § 34:11-56.48 et. seq. ("PWCRA").  See 0194a-0197a.  On May 30, 2024, Carbo submitted a supplement to its bid challenge noting two other alleged defects in the bids of the two apparent lowest bidders, however, neither of these supplemental challenges are relevant to this Appeal.  See 0208a-0211a.  On June 7, 2024, [...] and [...] submitted their written responses to [...]’s bid challenge.  See 0214a-0218a, 0228a-0234a, 0293a.  On June 10-11, 2024, the [...] received all Parties’ consent to proceed with the bid challenge on the papers, without the need for a hearing.  See 1513a-1514a.  In July of 2024, the [...]’s officers determined that: (1) [...]’s bid contained a material defect requiring disqualification, (2) [...]’s bid complied in all material respects with the bid documents, and (3) [...]’s objections to [...]’s bid were not sufficient to warrant disqualification of [...]’s bid.  See 0274a-0277a, 0010a.  On July 22, 2024, [...] General Counsel, [...], Esq., set forth the findings of the [...]’s officers and recommendation of award to [...] in a letter to [...] of [...], the lenders for the Project (hereinafter “[...]’s Recommendation”).  See 0274a-0277a, 0010a.  On July 24, 2024 the Commissioners of the [...] ratified the [...]’s Recommendation as the [...]’s official act (hereinafter “[...]’s Decision”).  See 0270a-0279a.  On July 31, 2024, the [...] voluntarily restrained itself from proceeding with the Project to allow the bid protestors, [...] and [...], to make their case before the Superior Court without delay.  See 0001a-0006a.  On September 17, 2024 the Parties appeared in Court before the Honorable [...], A.J.S.C. to argue their respective positions.  See 0007a.  On September 30, 2024, [...] issued an Order and Decision finding in favor of the [...].  See 0007a-0018a.  Following [...]’s Decision and [...]’s intention to file a motion and appeal, the [...] once again voluntarily consented to a stay of the award to [...] pending this Court’s determination of this Appeal so that [...] would not have to file a motion before this Court seeking same and the Court would not be burdened with motion practice.  1574a-1578a.  Procedural History