§ 58:26-23 — Notice of intent, review of proposals, negotiation of contract, terms.

5. a. A public entity shall publish notice of its intent to enter into a contract pursuant to P.L.1995, c.101 (C.58:26-19 et al.) in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the jurisdiction or service area that will receive water supply services under the terms of a contract and one newspaper of broad regional circulation, at least 60 days prior to conducting the public hearing required under section 6 of P.L.1995, c.101 (C.58:26-24). In addition, a public entity that intends to enter into a contract with a private firm for the provision of water supply services shall notify in writing the board, department and division of its intent. b. The public notice required under subsection a. of this section shall describe the type of services desired and provide the name, address and phone number of the person who can provide additional information and a proposal document to an interested party. The notice shall specify a deadline, that shall be not less than 30 days from the date of the publication of the notice for the submission of proposals by private firms to the public entity. The public entity may at any time revise the proposal document and each private firm that received a proposal document shall be provided with the revised proposal document. c. The public entity shall conduct a review of the proposals submitted by private firms to determine which proposals meet the minimum qualifications and standards. The review shall be conducted in a manner that avoids disclosure of the contents of a proposal to any private firm submitting a competing proposal. The public entity may conduct discussions with a private firm submitting a qualified proposal for the purpose of clarifying the information submitted in the proposal. The public entity may at any time revise its proposal document after the review of the submitted proposals if it notifies simultaneously and in writing each private firm that submitted a proposal of the revision and provides a uniform time within which a firm may submit a revised proposal for review. d. A public entity shall select one qualified proposal from among those submitted. The public entity shall negotiate a contract with the private firm that submitted the selected proposal. If the public entity is unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with the selected private firm, it may select another qualified proposal from among those submitted and proceed to negotiate a contract with the private firm that submitted the proposal. The public entity shall set forth in writing the reasons for the selection of the qualified proposal submitted by the private firm with which the public entity has negotiated a proposed contract and shall make this document available to the public along with the proposed contract upon request and during the public hearing conducted pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1995, c.101 (C.58:26-24). e. A contract entered into pursuant to P.L.1995, c.101 (C.58:26-19 et al.) shall include provisions addressing the following: (1) The charges, rates, fees or formulas to be used to determine the charges, rates, or fees to be charged by the public entity for the water supply services to be provided; (2) The allocation of the risks of financing and constructing planned capital additions or upgrades to existing water supply facilities; (3) The allocation of the risks of operating and maintaining the water supply facility; (4) The allocation of the risks associated with circumstances or occurrences beyond the control of the parties to the contract; (5) The defaulting and termination of the contract; (6) The employment of current employees of the public entity whose positions or employment will be affected by the terms of the contract; (7) The private firm's authority and the extent, or the procedures for the use, of that authority to initiate, negotiate and finalize the terms for a bulk sale of surplus water. The contract shall either grant the private firm such authority or specifically state that the firm is denied that authority. Nothing in P.L.1995, c.101 (C.58:26-19 et al.) shall be construed to authorize a public entity that enters into a contract pursuant to P.L.1995, c.101 (C.58:26-19 et al.) to provide for the bulk sale, lease or transfer of water if the water being transferred, leased or sold has been supplied to the public entity either by the New Jersey Water Supply Authority or by the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission, unless the authority pursuant to P.L.1981, c.293 (C.58:1B-1 et seq.) or the district pursuant to R.S.58:5-1 et seq., as appropriate, has agreed to the bulk sale, lease or transfer; (8) The requirements for the provision of a performance bond by the private firm, if so required by the public entity; and (9) The allocation of responsibility for compliance with the provisions of the "Water Quality Accountability Act," P.L.2017, c.133 (C.58:31-1 et seq.), if applicable . A contract may contain any other terms and conditions that have been negotiated by the public entity and the private firm. f. If a dispute over contract compliance, performance or termination cannot be resolved by the public entity and the private firm pursuant to the procedures set forth in the contract, either party to the contract may file with the Superior Court which has appropriate jurisdiction a request for an order either to terminate the contract based on the reasons stated in the request or for an order for other appropriate relief to the dispute. The court may take such action as it may deem necessary to facilitate the expeditious resolution of the dispute and an expeditious response to the request, including ordering the parties to undertake a dispute resolution or mediation process. The court shall use, as it deems necessary, the services of a financial expert in the area of water supply service contracts in its analysis of the contract and the issues before it. Within 90 days after the filing of a request, the court shall either grant the request or deny the request. If the request is granted, the court shall order such appropriate relief measures or remedies as it deems appropriate and necessary. g. A public entity that has negotiated a contract with a private firm pursuant to P.L.1995, c.101 (C.58:26-19 et al.) shall obtain the written opinion of bond counsel as to effect of the contract on the tax exempt status of existing and future financing instruments executed by the public entity given the terms of the contract and the federal laws or regulations concerning this matter. h. If a public entity entering a contract consists of multiple municipalities, a concession fee or other monetary benefit paid by a private firm as a result of the contract shall be paid directly to the municipalities constituting that public entity. Any concession fee or monetary benefit paid by a private firm to a public entity shall be used for the purpose of reducing or off-setting property taxes. L.1995, c.101, s.5; amended 2021, c.184, s.15.