Responsible Bidder Language:
Protecting your community, protecting you!

School construction projects come with a unique set of pitfalls, predators, and possibilities, all which make an administrator or school board’s job more challenging. Think that the success or failure of your construction project will be measured in bricks alone? Think again

While New Jersey undertakes a multi-billion dollar school construction program that will affect hundreds of districts statewide, one project likely stands out beyond all others—–yours. That is why having a clear sense of options is important. Will your project be managed by a general contractor or will you have multiple primes? Have you considered how to properly assess safety and training variables and how they factor into the health and welfare of the community? How important is it that local labor be used on your project? Will you …..?

Many school districts have moved forward with projects just like yours, not realizing the technical and political factors that come in to play. Which is why many districts are turning to responsible bidder language to protect their interests. Very simply, responsible bidder language is similar to the existing responsive and responsible bidder language currently used, but it is expanded to include contractor responsibilities to the community on issues of fair wages, health insurance, retirement and training. In no time in history has school construction been more closely watched. Know your facts. Find out is responsible bidder language is right for you.

For more information, please call NJ LECET school construction specialist,
Joe Tyrrell at 609-860-9223 or e-mail jtyrrell@njlaborers.org

Egg Harbor Township Board of Education Language:
All labor shall be covered by an approved health and hospital plan, an approved pension plan and an apprenticeship training program pursuant to standards established under the Department of Labor and Industry Act of 1948 (N.J.S.A. 34.1A-34, et seq.). A statement of employee benefits must be completed and made part of the bid in order for the bid to be accepted.

Gloucester County Responsible Language:
The purpose of assuring such quality on significant school construction projects, the School District understands that each successful bidder must employ a workforce consisting of individuals who individuals who each possess the highest degree of skill available for a particular job, and who each receives fair compensation for their work.

The School District may be objectively assured that it will receive the highest quality workmanship only when a contractor assigns, to each particular job on the project, employees who have been trained in the trade related to that job, under an apprenticeship program established in compliance with N.J.S.A. 34:1A-32

All employees assigned to work on the projects shall be covered by an approved health and hospital insurance plan, an approved pension plan, and an approved apprenticeship training program pursuant to the standards established under the United States Department of Labor.

Prevailing Wage Language:
The New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act, N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.25 et seq., requires that the Department of Labor establish and enforce a prevailing wage level for workers in order to safeguard their efficiency and general well being and to protect them as well as their employers from the effects of serious and unfair competition.

Prevailing Wage Rate Determinations listing wage and fringe benefit rates based on collective bargaining agreements established for a particular craft or trade on the locality in which the public work is performed. In New Jersey, rates vary by county and statewide and by the type of work performed.

Payroll Certification
Payroll Certification for Public Works Projects (for Contractor and Sub-Contractor's Use for Weekly and Final Certification) - Effective February 18, 1992 Regulation N.J.A.C. 12:60-2.1 and 6.1 of the New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act, N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.25 et. seq. requires that certified payroll records must be submitted to the public body for each employee on the project. The General Contractor is responsible for ensuring that each sub-contractor submits the certified payroll within ten (10) days of the payment of wages. The public body shall receive, file and make available for inspection during normal business hours the certified payroll records.

Chicago Responsible Bidder Language (doc)