How to sell to New Jersey counties

New Jersey has 21 counties. Counties are "contracting units" under the Local Public Contracts Law (LPCL), N.J.S.A. 40A:11. The state Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) administers the law and announces threshold adjustments, which happen every five years. The biggest variable is whether a county has a certified qualified purchasing agent (QPA), which lets it use a higher bid threshold.

At a glance

Who buys

Each county is governed by an elected Board of County Commissioners, and some also have an elected county executive. Contracts above the bid threshold are awarded by resolution of the board (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4). Many counties employ a QPA, who can award contracts below the bid threshold and raises the threshold the county may adopt (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-3). Whether a county executive charter changes how the LPCL applies was not confirmed.

Goods and services

Thresholds since July 1, 2025 (Local Finance Notice 2025-08):

The previous QPA maximum was $44,000. Each county adopts its own threshold up to the maximum by resolution, so ask which amount it uses.

• Quotes: between the quote and bid thresholds, the county seeks at least two quotes if practicable and awards to the one "most advantageous, price and other factors considered" (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-6.1(a)).
• Formal bids: above the bid threshold, publicly advertised sealed bids (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4).
• Competitive contracting: an RFP-style process is allowed above the bid threshold for listed specialized purchases such as proprietary software, facility operation, emergency medical services, food service and consulting (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1). Its award standard was not confirmed.
• Professional services: exempt from bidding. The board awards by resolution stating its reasons and publishes notice once in the official newspaper after award (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(i)).

Construction and public works

• Thresholds: the same LPCL bid threshold applies to construction: $53,000 with a QPA, $17,500 without (DLGS threshold tables).
• County roads: county road improvements (N.J.S.A. 27:16-16) and paving of thoroughfares (N.J.S.A. 27:2-1) use a $24,200 threshold since July 1, 2025, up from $19,600 (DLGS threshold tables).
• Bid security: bid guarantees fall under N.J.S.A. 40A:11-21; the amount and cap were not confirmed. Check the solicitation for the bid bond requirement.
• Surety consent: bidders on building and real property improvement contracts over $100,000 submit a surety's consent certificate with the bid (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-22).
• Bonds: a payment and performance bond in an amount the county sets, up to 100% of the bid. It may be waived on contracts of $100,000 or less. Bonds of $850,000 or more carry extra surety capital and Treasury certification requirements (N.J.S.A. 2A:44-143).
• Comptroller reporting: contracts from $3.0 million to $15.2 million are reported to the State Comptroller within 20 business days after award; contracts over $15.2 million are reported 30 business days before advertising (DLGS threshold tables, effective July 1, 2025).

Notice and award

Notice: bids are advertised in an official newspaper of the county, early enough to encourage competition and at least 10 days before bids are received. The notice says how bids are submitted and when and where they will be received. Bids may not be due on a Monday or the day after a holiday, and addenda notices go by certified delivery (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-23).

Award: to the lowest responsible bidder. The board may disqualify a bidder for prior negative experience after notice and a hearing (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4).

Prevailing wage

New Jersey's Prevailing Wage Act (N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.25 et seq.) applies to county public works. The threshold for contracting units other than municipalities is $2,000; for municipalities it is $19,375, from July 1, 2024 (DLGS threshold tables). Counties fall in the "other contracting units" group. See prevailing wage.

Getting paid

• Retainage: 2% of each partial payment is withheld and paid in full within 45 days of final acceptance. Any security after acceptance must be a maintenance bond of up to 2 years, not over 100% of project cost (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-16.3).
• Prompt payment on construction: public owners pay within 30 calendar days after the billing date. A bill is deemed approved 20 days after receipt unless the owner sends a written withholding statement. A body that needs a governing-body vote may pay in the next payment cycle if the contract says so. Contractors pay subs within 10 days, and late payments earn interest at prime plus 1% (N.J.S.A. 2A:30A-2).

No county prompt payment rule for goods and services was confirmed.

Cooperative purchasing and state contracts

• State contracts: counties may buy off New Jersey State contracts without bidding. GSA Federal Supply Schedules are allowed with price conditions and a filing within 5 working days, and the county must document best value (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-12).
• Beating the State price: a county may buy outside a State contract if the lowest of three quotes is at least 10% below the State contract price, by a two-thirds board vote, filed with DLGS within 5 working days (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(4)).
• National and other-state co-ops: allowed for goods and services, not construction, if the contract was competitively bid by a public contracting unit, advertised nationally including New Jersey, and the county documents cost savings. DLGS advises a 10-day notice of intent (N.J.S.A. 52:34-6.2(b)(3); Local Finance Notice 2012-10).

See cooperative purchasing.

Preferences and required certifications

• Standard vendor documents: a New Jersey business registration certificate, a statement of corporate ownership, EEO and affirmative action compliance and, if required, a non-collusion affidavit (Local Finance Notice 2012-10).
• Pay-to-play: contracts above $17,500 can bring in pay-to-play disclosure and political contribution rules when the process is not "fair and open" (Local Finance Notice 2025-08; LFN 2012-10).
• Iran certification: applicability to counties not confirmed; check the solicitation.
• Local, veteran or in-state preferences, E-Verify and Israel boycott: none found for counties.

Architects and engineers

Architects and engineers are professional services, exempt from public bidding. Counties award them by resolution, subject to pay-to-play "fair and open" or disclosure rules (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(i)). We found no state qualifications-based selection mandate for counties.

Recent changes

• July 1, 2024: the prevailing wage threshold for municipalities rose to $19,375; counties stay at $2,000 (DLGS threshold tables).
• July 1, 2025: the QPA bid threshold maximum rose from $44,000 to $53,000, the QPA quote threshold to $7,950, and the county road and paving threshold from $19,600 to $24,200. The pay-to-play threshold stays at $17,500 (Local Finance Notice 2025-08; DLGS threshold tables).
• Proposed: 2026 Assembly Bill 3542 would add cost-estimate ranges to bid ads for construction over $500,000 (A3542, introduced).

Practical tips for New Jersey

• Ask whether the county has a QPA and what threshold it adopted. It decides whether you quote or bid.
• Watch the county's official newspapers. Notices can run just 10 days ahead.
• Have your business registration, ownership statement and EEO documents ready, and pay-to-play forms for contracts over $17,500.
• Line up surety consent early for building work over $100,000 (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-22).
• Check New Jersey counties for each county's bid platform, contacts and agendas.