Court Opinion

ID: 9925609
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-01-22 15:06:06.084723+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:21:20.083324
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                            APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
     This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
  internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                     SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                     APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                     DOCKET NO. A-3501-22

IN RE UNION PAVING &
CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
CONTRACT: ROUTE 7
KEARNY DRAINAGE
IMPROVEMENTS, NJDOT
CONTRACT #002950652,
FEDERAL PROJECT #0007(332).
______________________________

                Submitted December 13, 2023 – Decided January 22, 2024

                Before Judges Currier, Firko, and Susswein.

                On appeal from the New Jersey Department of
                Transportation.

                Hedinger & Lawless LLC, attorneys for appellant
                Union Paving & Construction Co., Inc. (Robert
                Hedinger, on the briefs).

                Matthew J. Platkin, Attorney General, attorney for
                respondent New Jersey Department of Transportation
                (Melissa H. Raksa, Assistant Attorney General, of
                counsel; Morgan Levine Rice, Deputy Attorney
                General, on the brief).

                Florio Perrucci Steinhardt Cappelli Tipton & Taylor,
                LLC, attorneys for amicus curiae Utility and
            Transportation Contractors Association of New Jersey,
            Inc. (Louis Cappelli, Jr., on the brief).

PER CURIAM

      Union Paving & Construction Company (UPC) appeals from the July 5,

2023 final agency decision of respondent New Jersey Department of

Transportation (DOT) rejecting UPC's bid for a federally funded project known

as the Route 7 Kearny Drainage Improvements Project (the Project). The DOT

rejected UPC's bid because the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) found

that UPC failed to meet the Project's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)1

goal or provide documentation of UPC's good faith efforts to do so. The

remaining bids submitted exceeded DOT's estimated costs for the work. The

DOT determined that without FHWA's funding, DOT could not award UPC the

Project and chose to reject all bids and re-advertise.

1
   The DBE program is designed to remedy ongoing discrimination and the
continuing effects of past discrimination in federally assisted highway, transit,
airport, and highway safety financial assistance transportation contracting
markets nationwide. The primary remedial goal and objective of the DBE
program is to level the playing field by providing small businesses owned and
controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals a fair
opportunity to compete for federally funded transportation contracts.
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, U.S. Dep't of
Transportation,      https://www.transportation.gov/civil-rights/disadvantaged-
business-enterprise (last updated Nov. 25, 2022).
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                                        2
      UPC contends the DOT was obligated to award the contract to UPC,

abused its discretion in not doing so, and erred by asserting the FHWA had the

right to refuse to permit an award to UPC. We granted leave to the Utility and

Transportation Contractors Association of New Jersey, Inc., to file an amicus

curiae brief, which supports UPC's contentions. After our review in light of

UPC's contentions, the facts and applicable principles of law, we affirm.

                                       I.

      On May 18 2023, the DOT issued an advertisement for bids for the

Project. According to the bid specifications, the Project was intended to address

drainage deficiencies and mitigate regular flooding events that compromised the

roadway's safety and resulted in closures. The Project is funded from three

sources:    $98,000,000 from the FHWA; $26,000,000 from a federal

infrastructure grant; and $7,000,000 from New Jersey's Transportation Trust

Fund. The DOT's May 18, 2023 Notice to Contractors indicated the estimated

cost range was between $75,000,001 and $100,000,000; listed work items and

quantities; and referred bidders to an electronic bid submission platform—Bid

Express2—for plans, specifications, addenda, and bidding information. The

2
  The Bid Express service is an online information service for bidding provided
by Infotech, Inc. It is a two-way service, publishing bid-related information

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Notice to Contractors indicated DOT "reserves its right to reject any and/or all

bids in accordance with N.J.S.A. 27:7-303 and N.J.S.A. 27:7-33."4 The Project

included a 10% DBE goal because it was partially federally funded.

       At a presentation given by the DOT on May 18, 2023, which was also

available on Bid Express, the DOT explained the key federal civil rights

from agencies to the bidding community, and allowing online secure bid
submission from the bidding community to the agency. Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs), Bid Express, https://bidx.com (last visited Jan. 11, 2024).
3
  N.J.S.A. 27:7-30 provides:

             The commissioner may reject any or all bids not in
             accord with the advertisement of specifications, or for
             any other irregularity, or may reject any or all bids if
             the price for work or materials is excessively above the
             estimated cost, or for any other cause. The state
             highway engineer shall prepare a list of the bids,
             including any rejected and the cause therefor, and the
             commissioner shall award the contract to the lowest
             responsible bidder.
4
    N.J.S.A. 27:7-33 provides:

             The commissioner shall award the contract or reject the
             bids therefor within [thirty] working days after the bids
             are received, except that this time limit may be
             extended by mutual agreement, and all proposal bonds
             which have been delivered with the bids, except those
             of the two lowest responsible bidders, shall be returned
             within [three] working days after such bids are
             received. Any and all bids may be rejected when the
             commissioner determines that it is in the public interest
             to do so.
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requirements, identified DBE subcontracting opportunities, reviewed the DOT's

DBE forms, and cautioned there was "no room for errors on the [c]ivil rights

forms." The DOT also issued an Advisory Notice explaining common errors

and reminded bidders to ensure all forms are "PROPERLY, ACCURATELY,

and FULLY COMPLETE." Bidders were advised that the DBE requirements

under 49 C.F.R. §§ 26.1 - .109 "applie[d] to this agreement," and reiterated the

"DOT reserve[d] its rights to reject any and all bids in accordance with N.J.S.A.

27:7-30 and N.J.S.A. 27:7-33."

      DOT's Department of Civil Rights/Affirmative Action (DCRAA) had

"sole authority to determine whether the Bidder met the Project's DBE goal or

made adequate good faith efforts to do so." DBE submissions were due at the

time of the bid, but the Project addendum allowed bidders five additional days

to make their DBE submissions.

      UPC's bid of $93,908,149.53 was the lowest of the five bids submitted by

approximately $6,000,000. UPC submitted its DBE package to the DCRAA. A

week later, the DCRAA issued a recommendation not to award the Project to

UPC because its DBE showed a commitment of only 3.32% due to deficiencies

in its documentation. The DCRAA noted the 6.68% deficit stemmed from the

following issues: (1) forms CR-272 (DBE regular dealer/supplier verification)

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submitted for JMD Building Products, LLC (JMD), and William G. Moore &

Son, Inc. (Moore), were incomplete because UPC did not sign them and the type

of materials within the worktypes that JMD and Moore would be supplying was

not provided; (2) UPC incorrectly indicated Green Earth Solutions, Inc. (Green

Earth), would perform tasks it was not certified to perform; (3) UPC failed to

list Mendez Trucking, Inc. (Mendez Trucking), on its CR-266 form (schedule of

DBE, Emerging Small Business Enterprise, and Small Business Enterprise); and

(4) DCRAA was unable to decipher the specific value of work Eastern

Landscape, Inc., was certified to perform under the Port Authority's Unified

Certification Program requirements.

      UPC protested the rejection of its bid and requested an Administrative

Reconsideration hearing, pursuant to DOT Standard Specifications and federal

regulations, including 49 C.F.R. § 26.53.      UPC submitted a letter and

documentation to DOT to clarify its DBE plan, demonstrating why its bid should

not be rejected. DOT appointed its Assistant Commissioner as the Hearing

Officer.

      At the one-day Administrative Review Hearing held on June 23, 2023,

two representatives testified from the Division on Civil Rights (DCR). They

explained the bid information and their reasons for not recommending an award

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                                      6
of the contract to UPC. The representatives stated the DCR could not verify the

amount of each line item attributable to certain building products that JMD sells

or leases or whether JMD is a broker for these products. JMD's CR-272 form

was not signed by UPC. Similar deficiencies applied to Moore—the work items

were not fully described and UPC did not sign the CR-272 form.

      The DCR representatives testified that Green Earth Resolutions was

supposed to assist in the disposal of regulated materials, but the company was

not certified in trucking or sampling and testing, and the requisite forms for this

company were not provided to count towards UPC's DBE goal. Regarding

Eastern Landscaping, the DCR representatives explained the company is not

certified to perform tree clearance and tree removal by the Port Authority and

was only certified to do tree pruning.

      UPC called the various subcontractors' representatives to testify as to their

understanding of their "civil rights documents." UPC's counsel conceded the

bid included some "minor" defects, such as unsigned forms, but argued these

defects should be "waived." UPC also conceded it had not submitted signed

CR-272 forms. As to one subcontractor, UPC's counsel explained the failure to

submit a completed form was "due to an uploading mistake."

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                                         7
      Following the testimony and arguments of counsel, the Hearing Officer

issued a written decision. As to JMD, the Hearing Officer concluded UPC's

failure to sign the CR-272 form was "not fatal" to UPC's bid, and the testimony

bore out that the form was otherwise complete. UPC's representative indicated

that he signed the CR-272 form on June 12, 2023, the same day he uploaded

other civil rights documents to the DCR. Therefore, the Hearing Officer found

the mistakes in the documentation could be corrected. The Hearing Officer

made similar findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding the work

contemplated to be performed by Moore.

      Regarding Green Earth, the Hearing Officer determined its representative

testified credibly and the improperly listed work to be performed in sampling

and analysis was a "typographical error" and "d[id] not [a]ffect the outcome of

the bid." However, the Hearing Officer found Green Earth, as a management

company for environmental services, was not a certified DBE trucker. The

Hearing Officer noted Mendez Trucking may fulfill a portion of the bid for

trucking for Green Earth, but UPC's error in not listing Mendez Trucking on its

bid forms "cannot be overcome."

      The Hearing Officer determined Eastern Landscaping could not perform

tree removal and other landscaping items because it was only certified to

                                                                         A-3501-22
                                      8
perform tree pruning.     However, the Hearing Officer concluded Eastern

Landscaping was nonetheless certified to perform the work, "even if for other

subcodes." The Hearing Officer noted UPC did not submit any good faith efforts

along with its bid.

      After making calculations based on his decision, the Hearing Officer

determined UPC's DBE participation is 9.83% out of 10%. In addition, the

Hearing Officer concluded he did not need evidence to examine whether UPC

engaged in good faith efforts because he found "the participation is reasonable

and not overly deficient to warrant the analysis at .17% deficiency."       The

Hearing Officer explained a bidder can meet the DBE goal by documenting

commitments for participation by DBE firms sufficient for this purpose, or if

the bidder does not meet that goal, document good faith efforts. The Hearing

Officer transmitted his decision to the Division of Procurement to process the

award of the Project contract to UPC.

      On June 28, 2023, DOT sent an email to FHWA with the following

documents: (1) a letter requesting FHWA concurrence; (2) bid analysis; (3) bid

tabulation; (4) bid memo; (5) engineer's estimate; (6) addendum certification

letter; (7) civil rights recommendation; (8) final agency decision to award; (9)

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                                        9
integrity oversight monitoring; (10) certified bid proposal; and (11) certificate

of award.

        The FHWA rejected the Administration Reconsideration decision and

declined to concur in the award to UPC because it determined UPC's bid did not

meet the 10% DBE goal or document UPC's good faith efforts to meet the DBE

goal.    Because DOT could not award the Project without the FHWA's

concurrence, DOT advised UPC of its decision on July 5, 2023, and stated the

FHWA had determined that UPC "did not meet the DBE goal nor did the

apparent low bidder provide good faith effort documentation regarding its

efforts to meet the DBE goal."       The DOT's letter also informed UPC the

remaining bids exceeded DOT's estimated costs for the work to be performed,

and in accordance with N.J.S.A. 27:7-30 and N.J.A.C. 16:44-7.4, the DOT

determined it was in the best interest of the State to reject all bids received and

to re-advertise.

        On July 6, 2023, UPC requested DOT stay any actions in furtherance of

the rejection of UPC's bid or a rebid. On July 11, 2023, UPC sought permission

in this court to file an emergent motion seeking to adopt the Hearing Officer's

decision and mandate that DOT proceed in accordance with that decision. UPC

contended the FHWA had no standing or legal authority to interfere with DOT's

                                                                             A-3501-22
                                       10
decision, which is a final agency decision. We denied UPC's application the

next day, noting that DOT had "rejected all bids and will not make a contract

award to any other bidder."

      On July 14, 2023, DOT denied UPC's request for a stay in a letter advising:

            [T]he FHWA determined that UPC failed to meet the
            project's [DBE] goal or provide documentation of good
            faith efforts to do so. As a NHPP-funded PoDI project,
            the FHWA's support is critical.               Because of
            substantially higher bids submitted by alternate
            bidders, the . . . DOT determined that it was in the best
            interest of the State and public to reject all bids and re-
            advertise.

On August 10, 2023, we granted UPC's motion for a stay and to accelerate the

appeal.

      On appeal, UPC argues the Hearing Officer's decision was a final agency

decision, which obligated DOT to award the contract to UPC. In addition, UPC

contends DOT's decision to reject its bid because the FHWA would not concur

in the award to UPC and overturn a DBE compliance finding was arbitrary,

capricious, and unreasonable because the DOT's decision is contrary to the goal

of encouraging participation in the public bidding process and renders the

administrative hearing process "a sham." We disagree.

                                        II.

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      We use a deferential standard of review for governmental decisions in

bidding cases. In re Protest of Award of On-Line Games Prod. & Operation

Servs. Cont., Bid No. 95-X-20175, 279 N.J. Super. 566, 590-93 (App. Div.

1995). "The standard of review on the matter of whether a bid on a local public

contract conforms to specifications . . . is whether the decision was arbitrary,

unreasonable, or capricious." Ibid. (citing Palamar Constr. Inc. v. Twp. of

Pennsauken, 196 N.J. Super. 241, 250 (App. Div. 1983); Stano v. Soldo Constr.

Co., 187 N.J. Super. 524, 534 (App. Div. 1983)). If a public entity's decision is

grounded rationally in the record and does not violate the applicable law, it must

be upheld. Ibid. We will not interfere with the exercise of an agency's discretion

in awarding a contract or rejecting a bidder "in the absence of bad faith,

corruption, fraud or gross abuse of discretion."       Com. Cleaning Corp. v.

Sullivan, 47 N.J. 539, 549 (1966).

      The DOT Commissioner has the authority to "advertise for bids on the

work and materials covered by the plans and specifications for each project,"

N.J.S.A. 27:7-29, and must "award the contract to the lowest responsible

bidder." N.J.S.A. 27:7-30. "The lowest responsible bidder on a local public

contract must not only be deemed responsible but must submit the lowest bid

which conforms with the contract specifications." On-Line Games, 279 N.J.

                                                                            A-3501-22
                                       12
Super. at 590 (citing Meadowbrook Carting Co. v. Borough of Island Heights,

138 N.J. 307, 313 (1994)). The contract specifications apply equally to all

bidders, and any material departure from the bid specifications renders bids

nonconforming and invalid. Hall Constr. Co. Inc. v. N.J. Sports & Exposition

Auth., 295 N.J. Super. 629, 635 (App. Div. 1996). Material conditions cannot

be waived by the contracting authority, but minor or inconsequential

discrepancies and technical omissions may be waived. Meadowbrook, 138 N.J.

at 314.

      Thus, when a contracting agency makes a determination regarding a bid's

conformity with an advertisement, "[t]he preliminary inquiry is whether the bid

deviates from the" advertisement. On-Line Games, 279 N.J. Super. at 594. If

there is a deviation, the court then determines whether the deviation is material

and can be waived. Ibid.

      49 C.F.R. § 26.53(a) provides that when a DBE contract goal is

established, as here, the contract must only be awarded to a bidder who makes a

good faith effort to meet that goal. A bidder must be found to have made a good

faith effort if the bidder does either of the following:

            (1) Documents that it has obtained enough DBE
            participation to meet the goal; or

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                                        13
            (2) Documents that it made adequate good faith efforts
            to meet the goal, even though it did not succeed in
            obtaining enough DBE participation to do so. If the
            bidder/offeror does document adequate good faith
            efforts, you must not deny award of the contract on the
            basis that the bidder/offeror failed to meet the goal.

            [Ibid.]

      If a bidder is found to have failed to meet the requirements of § 26.53(a),

then it must, before the contract is awarded, be provided an opportunity for

administrative reconsideration.     49 C.F.R. § 26.53(d).        Administrative

reconsideration entails the following:

            (1) As part of this reconsideration, the bidder/offeror
            must have the opportunity to provide written
            documentation or argument concerning the issue of
            whether it met the goal or made adequate good faith
            efforts to do so.

            (2) [The] decision on reconsideration must be made by
            an official who did not take part in the original
            determination that the bidder/offeror failed to meet the
            goal or make adequate good faith efforts to do so.

            (3) The bidder/offeror must have the opportunity to
            meet in person with [the] reconsideration official to
            discuss the issue of whether it met the goal or made
            adequate good faith efforts to do so.

            (4) [T]he bidder/offeror [must be provided] a written
            decision on reconsideration, explaining the basis for
            finding that the bidder did or did not meet the goal or
            make adequate good faith efforts to do so.

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                                         14
            (5) The result of the reconsideration process is not
            administratively appealable to the [DOT].

            [Ibid.]

      The DCRAA recommended not to award the Project to UPC because of

the deficiencies in its required DBE participation documentation, and its failure

to show good faith efforts. Consequently, UPC received the administration

reconsideration hearing it was entitled to. The Hearing Officer found UPC's

DBE participation goal was 9.83% and therefore, it was close enough to the

Project's established 10% DBE goal to advise the Division of Procurement to

award the Project to UPC.

      On appeal, UPC argues the Hearing Officer's decision is not advisory in

nature, was a final agency decision, and neither DOT nor FHWA had the right

to ignore or overrule the Hearing Officer's decision.

      We are satisfied the DOT could not award the Project contract without the

FHWA's concurrence. We are unpersuaded by UPC's argument that neither the

DOT nor the FHWA had the right to disregard the Hearing Officer's decision—

which was not a contract award. To the contrary, 23 C.F.R. § 635.114, which

deals with FHWA contract procedures, specifically provides:

            (b) The State DOT shall formally request concurrence
            by the Division Administrator in the award of all
            Federal-aid contracts. Concurrence in award by the

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                                      15
            Division Administrator is a prerequisite to Federal
            participation in construction costs and is considered as
            authority to proceed with construction, unless
            specifically stated otherwise. Concurrence in award
            shall be formally approved and shall only be given after
            receipt and review of the tabulation of bids.

      This CFR section underscores the DOT was required to seek the FHWA's

concurrence for this largely federally funded project—$98,000,000 of the

$131,000,000 projected costs—and that the FHWA did in fact have the authority

to preclude awarding the project to UPC. Furthermore, the 2019 Standard

Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction for the Project contains

"Section 103—Award and Execution of Contract"—which states, "[DOT] may

conditionally award the Contract pending the approval of the Federal

Government, another State's governmental body, or private party."

      Moreover, Section E of Form DC-86F—the Certificate of Award for the

Project—requires the Deputy Director of the Capital Program Coordination to

sign and certify DOT received the FHWA's concurrence.         In light of these

mandated procedures, we are satisfied DOT did not act arbitrarily in denying the

bid award to UPC when its bid did not comply with the 10% DBE participation

requirement. We discern no basis to disturb the DOT's decision to reject UPC's

and all other bids and re-advertise the Project.

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                                       16
      In light of our determination to affirm DOT's decision, we need not

address UPC's argument that DOT's refusal to abide by the Hearing Officer's

decision is contrary to the goal of encouraging participation in the public bidding

process. To the extent we have not addressed UPC's remaining arguments, we

conclude they lack sufficient merit to discuss in a written opinion. R. 2:11-

3(1)(E).

      Affirmed. The August 10, 2023 stay order is vacated.

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