New Jersey § 40a:11-4

§ 40a:11-4.

a. The director, in consultation with the State Comptroller and pursuant to the “Administrative

Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c. 410 ( C.52:14B-1 et seq. ), shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of this act. The rules promulgated pursuant to this section shall include, but shall not be limited

to, practices that, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary: (1) convert the law, principals, safeguards, and procedures related to sealed bidding

to an electronic procurement environment; (2) authorize local units of government to accept commercial standards for electronic

forms of bid security; and (3) establish minimum standards that must be met by systems and services providing

and administering electronic procurement activities. The director shall also consult with the Attorney General to develop safeguards to

protect against collusion and bid rigging, with the Division of Purchase and Property

in the Department of the Treasury to develop practices used for electronic procurement,

and with the Office of Information Technology in, but not of, the Department of the

Treasury, to ensure the privacy and security of electronic transactions. b. With regard to the notices, advertising bids, or requests for proposals required

to be published in an official newspaper of the local unit, such notices, advertising

bids, or requests for proposals, as appropriate, shall not be eliminated under the

provisions of P.L.2018, c. 156 ( C.40A:11-4.7 et al.), and shall continue to be published as required by law. c. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, plans and specifications

for public works construction contracts that require the seal and signature of a professional

engineer, architect, or land surveyor may be included in an electronic file used for

electronic procurement as long as the original document from which the electronic

file is derived contains a physical or electronic seal and signature as otherwise

required by law; however, if and when the State Board of Engineers and Land Surveyors

and the New Jersey State Board of Architects adopt rules to permit digital seals and

signatures, those rules shall supersede this provision.