Contracting website gets state Senate approval

Continuing the state’s theme of “one-stop shopping” for jobs, the state Senate on Thursday unanimously voted to pass legislation creating a website for available government contracts.

Continuing the state’s theme of “one-stop shopping” for jobs, the state Senate on Thursday unanimously voted to pass legislation creating a website for available government contracts.

“Job seekers shouldn’t have to search various locations to track down which public agencies have contracting opportunities available,” said state Sen. Donald Norcross (D-Camden), who co-sponsored the bill with Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Monroe), in a released statement. “By creating an online one-stop shop for contractors looking for work, we will ensure that contract listings are easily accessible to all prospective bidders, and in effect, increase our residents’ chances of finding a job.”

The website, to be called “Bulletin NJ”, would be created by the Division of Local Government Services, in the Department of Community Affairs. The bill still must pass the Assembly before moving on to Gov. Chris Christie‘s desk.

“I had conversations over the years with many contractors — construction, particularly — when they’re trying to scour the different government entities for government contracts,” Norcross said. Historically, contractors would have to scour newspapers to find such notices; “there wasn’t a single comprehensive place to go to. And that becomes very difficult for contractors who might not be able to pick up the newspaper from that vicinity.”

“I’m thinking, I go online every day, and when I find news, I go right to CNN or NJBIZ, and it’s easy to find. That was the impetus behind the thought to make a single place that those seeking work could go to, search by county, by municipality. The further down the governmental wrung you go, the more difficult it becomes, such as fire districts, municipal utility authorities,” he said.

Norcross also said the bill helps taxpayers, because the more competitive bidders on a project, “generally speaking, the better the price will be.”

“Bulletin NJ will provide an invaluable resource to contractors, giving them instant access to bidding opportunities available at public entities across the state,” Greenstein said in a release. “At a time when so many people are unemployed, this will ensure those looking for contracting work have a wealth of information at their fingertips and, therefore, a greater probability of finding a job.”

According to the release, if the legislation is passed, the database will be online by March 1, 2012, with searchable information organized by the name of the public entity publishing the listing.

E-mail Melinda Caliendo at [email protected]