New Jersey § 40a:11-3

§ 40a:11-3.

a. (1) When the cost or price of a contract , in the aggregate , does not exceed in a contract year the total sum of $17,500, the governing body , by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate to the contracting unit, may authorize a purchasing agent or other designated employee to award the contract without public advertising for bids . (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary,

a contract having an anticipated value in excess of $17,500, but below the contracting

unit's applicable public bidding threshold, is not required to be awarded by the governing

body of the contracting unit and may be awarded by the qualified purchasing agent

of the contracting unit. (3) The governing body of a contracting unit that has designated a purchasing agent

pursuant to subsection a. of section 9 of P.L.1971, c. 198 ( C.40A:11-9 ) may establish a bid threshold of up to $25,000 or the threshold amount adjusted

by the Governor pursuant to subsection c. of this section. (4) The governing body of any contracting unit may adopt an ordinance or resolution to set a lower threshold

for the receipt of public bids or the solicitation of competitive quotations. (5) Bidding thresholds established by the governing body of a contracting unit pursuant

to paragraphs (2) or (3) of this subsection may be granted for each contract or by a general delegation of the power to negotiate

and award the contracts pursuant to this section. b. Any contract made pursuant to this section may be awarded for a period of up to 24 consecutive months, except that contracts for professional services pursuant to

subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 5 of P.L.1971, c. 198

( C.40A:11-5 ) may be awarded for a period not exceeding 12 consecutive months. The Division of Local Government Services shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations

concerning the methods of accounting for all contracts that do not coincide with the

contracting unit's fiscal year. c. The Governor, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, shall, no later

than March 1 of every fifth year beginning in the fifth year after the year in which P.L.1999, c. 440 takes effect, adjust the threshold amount, in direct proportion to the rise of the index rate as that term is defined in section 2 of P.L.1971, c. 198 ( C.40A:11-2 ), and shall round the adjustment to the nearest $1,000. The Governor shall, no later than June 1 of every fifth year, notify each governing

body of the adjustment. The adjustment shall become effective on July 1 of the year in which it is made.