Opinion ID: 2054068
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Are the TPA's bid specifications consistent with the policies of the State's public-bidding laws?

Text: The TPA is a body corporate and politic and is responsible for, among many other duties, facilitating vehicular traffic in the State by acquiring, constructing, maintaining, repairing, and operating turnpike projects. N.J.S.A. 27:23-5(e). When entering into certain contracts to fulfill those responsibilities, the TPA is required to advertise publicly for bids and must award such contracts to the lowest-responsible bidders. N.J.S.A. 27:23-6.1(a). The Widening Project contracts are subject to that public-bidding statute. In Terminal Construction Corp. v. Atlantic County Sewerage Authority, 67 N.J. 403, 341 A. 2d 327 (1975), our Court expressed the policy reasons for competitive-bidding statutes. Bidding statutes are for the benefit of the taxpayers and are construed as nearly as possible with sole reference to the public good. Their objects are to guard against favoritism, improvidence, extravagance and corruption; their aim is to secure for the public the benefits of unfettered competition. To achieve these purposes all bidding practices which are capable of being used to further corrupt ends or which are likely to affect adversely the bidding process are prohibited, and all awards made or contracts entered into where any such practice may have played a part, will be set aside. This is so even though it is evident that in fact there was no corruption or any actual adverse effect upon the bidding process. [ Id. at 409-10, 341 A. 2d 327.] Although that case concerned competitive bidding under the Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 to -49, the underlying operation and policy of that law are identical to that of N.J.S.A. 27:23-6.1(a), which governs this case. Cubic W. Data, Inc. v. New Jersey Turnpike Auth., 468 F. Supp. 59, 63 n. 4 (D.N.J. 1978). a.