Procurement controversies -- New Jersey, US

State comptroller recommendations aimed at reducing government contract fraud

State Comptroller Matthew Boxer said ineffective rules and procedures related to government contract awards provide “ample opportunity to exercise favoritism or violate the law in awarding such contracts.”

“We’ve seen a litany of criminal convictions in New Jersey for unlawfully steering contracts for everything from audit services to insurance services to building inspection services,” Boxer said. “The public is tired of it.

The comptroller’s office is recommending that:

— Contracts should be awarded based on predetermined, merit-based criteria made known to vendors before proposals are submitted.

— Proposals should be judged by a qualified evaluation committee.

— The pool of contractors solicited should be as expansive as possible.

— Statements of work should be drafted in clear and unambiguous terms.

— Contracts should be awarded following a documented scoring process.