N.J.S.A. 40A:11-10 authorizes the governing
bodies of two or more contracting units as defined in N.J.S.A. 40A:11-2(1)
within the same county, or adjoining counties, to provide by joint
agreement by ordinance for the purchase of work, materials and supplies
for use by their respective units, and the Township Committee of the
Township of Blairstown finds that substantial savings may be effected
by engaging in such a joint purchasing program, and the Townships
of Blairstown, Frelinghuysen, Hope, Hardwick, Knowlton, Allamuchy,
Pahaquarry, White and Belvidere have already expressed an interest
in providing for cooperative purchasing of certain materials and supplies.
A cooperative joint purchasing program is hereby
authorized, until thereafter amended, pursuant to the authority of
N.J.S.A. 40A:11-10 et seq. between the Township of Blairstown and
other participating authorized contracting units.
Materials and items to be purchased shall include
materials and supplies for maintenance, repair of roads; materials
and supplies for the maintenance, repair and operation and fueling
of vehicles.
A single advertisement for bids for the materials
to be purchased shall be placed on behalf of all the participants
agreeing to purchase any item by one party of the program selected
by the participants in the agreement. Cost of advertising for bids
shall be shared equally among the parties.
The party selected to advertise for bids shall
receive the bids on behalf of all the participants. Following the
receipt of bids, the selected party shall, after review of the bids
with the other participants, make one award to the lowest responsible
bidder for each separate item on behalf of all of the participating
agencies.
The bid sureties shall be posted to and retained
by the designated receiving participant until authorized to release
same by all interested participants.
After the award of bids each agency shall order
materials when needed in the quantities required. Successful bidders
shall bill the agencies separately for materials received and payments
shall be made directly to the bidder by each agency. No participant
in the program shall be responsible for payment for any other participating
municipality.
A separate agreement providing the detailed
procedure for the administration of the cooperative joint purchasing
program shall be executed by each of the participating municipalities.
The Mayor and Clerk of the Township are hereby authorized and empowered
to execute on behalf of the Township the agreements with other participating
contracting units upon approval of the Township Committee.