Welcome to the NJSTART Team's 2025 Quarter One Newsletter!
This Edition of the NJSTART Newsletter Contains:
Invitation to our upcoming NJSTART 101 Training Webinar
Updated reports on State of New Jersey contracts
Tips when Using NJSTART
NJSTART News and Announcements
Ask the Contract Guys
Survey Question - these questions change every quarter and your feedback is valued
A Message from the Local Government Manager on using the Punchout feature in NJSTART
Next NJSTART 101 Training Webinar
We are excited to invite you to our upcoming NJSTART 101 webinar! Join us on Tuesday, March 4th at 1:00 pm to get an in-depth look at the NJSTART platform, giving you valuable insights on how to navigate and utilize the platform more effectively. During this session, we will also provide an overview of the NJSTART Marketplace as an additional tool you can use to support your day-to-day State contract purchasing needs.
These webinars are a fantastic opportunity to deepen your understanding of NJSTART and to ask any questions you might have. We’re looking forward to your participation and engaging with you!
Quarterly State of New Jersey Cooperative Contracts List:
Please use this link to download a spreadsheet containing a comprehensive listing of State of New Jersey contracts open to New Jersey Cooperative Purchasing Program Participants, with multiple tabs, listed below:
All contracts as of November 2024 with Notes
New contracts since July 2024
Extended contracts since August 2024
Expired contracts since August 2024
Expiring soon (over next three months) contracts as of November 2024
Please review the Notes column provided in each of the views listed above to review whether a soon to expire contract portfolio is being re-procured, or if there are any extensions remaining on those contracts. This information is for informational purposes only and is meant to help all participants plan better when leveraging State of New Jersey Cooperative Contracts.
WB Mason contract # 24-COMG-78752 office supplies & related products
Cascade School Supplies contract # 17-FOOD-00243 Library & School Supplies
Upcoming Procurement Opportunities
NJ Local Buying units can always find a list of upcoming Procurement Opportunities on the State’s website here. As part of the NJSTART contract reports, a new column is added to the Quarterly State of New Jersey Contracts List report. These notes now provide NJ Local Buying units with added visibility to what the State, Division of Purchase & Property is seeking to procure or re-procure. It is important to remember that all procurement opportunities may not become State contracts available for cooperative purchasing. Users can always access the most up-to-date current/active bid through the advanced search within the NJSTART system. For help or any question regarding how to do this please contact the NJSTART team at coop-njstart@mdcommerce.com.
Compliance
Be sure to sign up for Office of NJ State Comptroller Updates. These updates are full of valuable information useful to all public purchasing entities.
To ensure continued access for users and the proper maintenance of login credentials in the NJSTART system, please notify us promptly at coop-njstart@mdfcommerce.com if you need to make any changes. This will be an ongoing effort as we continue to expand and support an increasing number of organizations and users.
Check out this link for our recent article in NJCOPS Magazine - found on page 86!
Ask the Contract Guys
Hear from Bill Hnatiuk - NJSTART Local Government Manager and
Trevor Day - NJSTART General Manager, as they answer
commonly asked questions, like:
Question: What does it mean when a contract is labeled “Pay Only”?
Answer: CORRECTION:
Pay Only is NOT a status in the NJSTART system. “Pay Only" status isn't directly visible in the contract search results, but it's something you'll find detailed within the contract documents under the attachments tab. It's important for users to always check the attachments tab to stay up to date on any relevant contract details, including any updates regarding the "Pay Only" status.
If there's any ambiguity or questions about specific contracts, the NJSTART team will provide updates and clarification as needed.
Question: Where can I find the most current fuel prices?
Question: Why do some contracts require a mini bid and how can we determine if one is needed?
Answer: You can determine if a mini bid is required by reviewing the Method of Operations or Final Bid Solicitation. These documents will help you determine how to use the contract. The reason a mini bid may be required is that the item you are trying to purchase has dynamic pricing and this ensures you are getting the best price that the time a mini bid is used.
Question: Why does the NJ Office of Information Technology (OIT) have to review quotes before a local buying unit can place an order?
Answer: This is true that OIT is required to review price quotation for some of the technology contracts. However review the Method of Operations as many of these contract terms have been updated and OIT review may not ne required.
YOUR FEEDBACK IS VALUABLE!
Please take our one-question survey to help us collect your feedback on obstacles and challenges when using the NJSTART platform.
Guidance to Local Buying Units regarding how to use the G2B Punchout feature in NJSTART
Located on the left-hand tool bar of the NJSTART dashboard (see icon circled in red) this icon navigates you to a dropdown list of vendors that have an ecommerce Punchout sites. This feature allows buyers to confidently shop within the framework of New Jersey State contracts, ensuring that all pricing is pre-approved and items are part of those contracts. By exporting the cart, buyers can then process the order through their ERP or purchasing system, which streamlines the process without directly placing orders through NJSTART. Please be sure to review the contract and method of operations for specific details.
Would you like help with additional details on how the Punchout system integrates with other aspects of the procurement process, or maybe some tips for navigating the dashboard more efficiently? Please contact coop-njstart@mdfcommerce.com.
NJSTART Customer Advisory Board
Join the NJSTART Customer Advisory Board!
As part of our ongoing effort to better understand and address the needs of our users, NJSTART is expanding its Customer Advisory Board. The board provides a valuable opportunity for customers to share feedback on issues related to the NJSTART system, suggest enhancements, ask contract-related questions, and engage in broader discussions surrounding public purchasing.
We are establishing a consistent quarterly meeting schedule for the year, with meetings set for:
February 20, 2025
May 22, 2025
September 18, 2025
December 18, 2025
All meetings will be limited to one hour, Starting at 1pm and an agenda will be provided in advance. Additionally, we will aim to schedule representatives from NJ DPP, DCA, and various associations to join us for these sessions.
If you are interested in joining the advisory board, please email me directly at bill.hnatiuk@mdfcommerce.com, and I will ensure you are added to the list.
Have you registered for NJSTART?
The NJSTART Team is committed to continually enhancing our support for public purchasing entities. To do so, I encourage organizations and users to register using the following links:
Step 1: Use this link to register your organization.
Step 2: Use this link to add additional users (there is no limit to the number of departments or users)
This will also ensure that you receive The NJSTART Quarterly Newsletter which is our primary means for communicating with our user community, invitations to training, and providing support.
Remember to log into the NJSTART system regularly to ensure your account remains active.
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Would you like to schedule an onsite or virtual NJSTART Training session for your organization?
