China, transparency, bidding, Conduent, TransCore — these are the recurring buzzwords around a lucrative — and controversial — new $1.7 billion contract to operate the New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s E-ZPass program.
At issue is a disputed bid process over the company chosen to handle the Turnpike Authority’s 60 million E-ZPass transactions each year on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, and on toll roads overseen by six other agencies around the state.
This is among the largest contracts awarded in Turnpike Authority history and involves hiring the company best equipped to manage the E-ZPass program, customer service, toll payments and other administrative services, including securing private motorist data and information…
Companies winning contracts with state agencies are required to provide disclosure forms showing ownership structures for those with a 10% stake or higher, said Marc Pfeiffer, a senior policy fellow and faculty researcher at Rutgers University’s Center for Urban Policy Research.
When these forms are not filled out properly, “that is considered to be a fatal flaw in the bid,” Pfeiffer said.