NJSTART Q3 Newsletter

September 2024

Welcome to the NJSTART Team's 2024 Quarter Three Newsletter! 

This Edition of the NJSTART Newsletter Contains:

1. Invitation to our upcoming NJSTART 101 Training Webinar
2. Updated reports on State of New Jersey contracts
3. Contract Spotlight on Seasonal Preparedness
4. Tips when Using NJSTART
5. NJSTART News and Announcements
6. Ask the Contract Guys
7. Survey Question - these questions change every quarter and your feedback is valued
8. A Message from the Local Government Manager on Purchasing vehicles from Statewide contracts

Next NJSTART 101 Training Webinar

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming NJSTART 101 webinar! Join us on Tuesday, September 17th at 2:00 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 August 2024 
• Seasonal Preparedness related contracts as of August 2024 
• New contracts since May 2024 
• Extended contracts since May 2024 
• Expired contracts since May 2024 
• Expiring soon (over next three months) contracts as of August 2024
• Contracts with Notes as of August 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. If you have any questions about the notes, please contact us at coop-njstart@mdfcommerce.com.   

Here are some helpful tips for reviewing for the contracts in NJSTART: 

1. Log in to  www.njstart.gov. 
2. Use the NJSTART Quick Reference Navigation Guide found on our NJSTART Local Government Resource Page to assist in your searches. 
3. Contact us if you need any assistance at coop-njstart@mdfcommerce.com. 

 Q3 Category Spotlight: Winter

Seasonal Preparedness

The Quarter three Contract Category Spotlight is Winter Seasonal Preparedness. Local government winter seasonal preparedness involves a range of strategic resources to effectively manage the challenges of cold weather, potential emergencies, clean up, and repairs. Many of these essential products and services contracts that are available to New Jersey Cooperative Purchasing Program Participants, can be found in NJSTART.  

Please see the attached report with over 40 contract portfolios that cover all aspects of seasonal preparedness and contact the NJSTART Team with any questions at coop-njstart@mdfcommerce.com. 

Always log in to www.njstart.gov to get all the details you need about each contract and remember to visit the Official Site of the State Of New Jersey, Department of Treasury, Division of Purchase and Property. This site has special notices, and links to other important information that can be useful in your daily work activity.

NJSTART Announcements

The NJSTART Team is expanding!

We are excited to announce that Nick Susi will be transitioning into a new role within our company. Nick’s new role as Sr. Director of Program Success will allow him to take on fresh challenges while continuing to support the NJSTART Program in new ways. While his responsibilities will be shifting, Nick will still be an integral part of the team. Nick is thankful for all he has learned from our New Jersey stakeholders and thanks you all for your support. He is very excited to welcome Trevor Day, who will be the new NJSTART General Manager.  

Welcome Trevor Day as the new General Manager of NJSTART!  Trevor has over 20 years of expertise in public administration and procurement, most recently as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and Procurement Commissioner for the City of Philadelphia. Known for enhancing efficiency and innovation, Trevor led the team for the city’s first eProcurement application, an ERP implementation, drove purchasing reforms saving millions annually, and boosted revenue by 300% through surplus asset sales. He is an advocate for diversity, ethical practices, and has managed significant technology and capital budget projects. Trevor holds an MBA in Urban Economic Development from Eastern University and a BA in Economics from Bates College. He has held membership in Workday’s Strategic Sourcing Advisory Council, The Pennsylvania Public Purchasing Association and NIGP. He has also held certifications in project management and believes in a strong focus on sustainable procurement.  

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.

Sign up now! 

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: How do I get updated about special notices not in the in the NJSTART Quarterly Newsletter?  

Answer: Be sure to register in NJSTART. Once registered, you will be signed up for newsletters and special announcements. Below is a listing of special announcements we shared this past quarter:

M4017 Medical Supplies and Pharmaceuticals - Statewide 

NEW CONTRACT M0052 - Office Supplies - Statewide 

NEW CONTRACT M8000 - Tires, Tubes and Services - Statewide

NEW CONTRACT T3008 - Land Debris Removal for Disasters

M4003 information Technology Vendor Managed Service Providers 

T3138 Electrical Vehicle Service Equipment - Statewide

Question: Can any authorized reseller/distributor/dealer of a vendor who has been awarded a State contract fulfill an order? 

Answer: No. Only resellers, distributors and dealers that are found on the vendor tab /distributor sub tab or up to date attachments can provide quotes and accept orders for an awarded contract. If there is ever a question you can contact the team at coop-njstart@mdfcommerce.com.

Question: Why does my organization need to register?

Answer: The only way to create user log on credentials with full access and support to NJSTART is to register the organization. This also helps to ensure that the NJSTART Team has the proper resources to support the local organizations and helps with understanding contract utilization.  And finally, it ensures we have the proper contact information to share important updates and alerts for State cooperative contracts. If you require further details, please contact us at coop-njstart@mdcommerce.com. 

Question: Do local Governments need a V# (Vendor Number in N JSTART)? 

Answer: No, only procurement vendors (vendors that sell products or services) should register for a V#. Public purchasing entities should have a specific W9 form with instructions from State/Dept. Treasury/Division of Purchase and Property.   You can request the form from the NJSTART Team at coop-njstart@mdfcommerce.com . Questions should be directed to Vendor Assistance at njstart@treas.nj.gov.  

Question:  In NJSTART, if there are no prices on the “Items Tab” where will I find pricing?

Answer: Many times, complete price lists can be found on the “Attachments Tab”. Guidelines and links for pricing can also be found in the Bid Solicitation/RFP or Method of Operation.  Always review these documents for directions on how pricing should be obtained.  

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.

Message from the NJSTART

Local Government Manager

Guidance to Local Government buyers purchasing vehicles from Statewide contract  

This guidance emphasizes the importance of timely ordering, understanding dealership practices regarding inventory, and utilizing State contracts effectively to meet local buying unit needs. 

The State Division of Purchase and Property (DPP) does not control the vehicle manufacturer ordering cut off dates. DPP makes every effort to publish and keep these dates current as soon as they are made available (in accordance with section 3.5.11 of the RFP). The auto manufacturers control the timing (cut off dates) for ordering vehicles. The local dealerships are responsible for communicating that information to the State. All using agencies must refer to the Master Notification that is published on DPP’s website: mnmaster.pdf (nj.gov).  The Master Notification is constantly updated when vehicles are rolled over to the next model year or when new Contract awards are made. It also specifies the last day that an order can be placed. T2099 (Class 1 Trucks) and T2006 (Passenger Vans) are among the new award entries.

Ordering vehicles is the only way to ensure that buyers will receive vehicles with the configuration and options that you want at the negotiated contract price. Be advised that contractors (AKA Dealerships) have the option to hold vehicles in their inventory. These vehicles may have options (also awarded on contract) that you may or may not want. This is a decision the dealership makes to fulfill the need for vehicles after the manufacturer cut-off dates and before the next model year. It is not encouraged to use the State contract for “LOT” vehicles; however, the reality is that there are occasions that buyers will need to source vehicles, and those vehicles may be equipped with additional options. 

State of NJ Statewide vehicle contracts are cooperative contracts made available to “Local Buying Units”. If the contracts that are available do not fulfill the needs of the local buying unit, then those organizations can procure vehicles independently following their local purchasing guidelines. 

DPP works hard to ensure that vehicle roll over to the next model year is done in a timely manner. These roll overs cannot occur until manufactures provide pricing, vehicle specifications, and the order start-up date. DPP must rely on the auto manufactures for this information and acts on it in a timely manner, so as to provide the maximum amount of time for ordering new vehicles. 

The NJSTART Team is here to assist with any questions regarding the use of Statewide contracts for vehicle purchases, or if local buying units are having any contract related issues. Those questions or concerns can be sent to NJSTART at coop-njstart@mdfcommerce.com. 

Did you know?

Registered users in NJSTART have access to a “Recent Documents” table on their dashboard. This features catalogs Blankets (contracts) and documents recently viewed.  The table provides a hot link directly back to the contract you were working on.  This is a rich feature as if you had to stop working on something you can easily pick up where you left off. 

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. 

The NJSTART Team
NJSTART Co-Op
coop-njstart@mdfcommerce.com