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NJ START Frequently Asked Questions

NJSTART Registration

How do I register in NJSTART?
Visit www.njstart.gov and click on "Supplier Registration" to start the process. More information can be found in the NJSTART "Vendor Registration" guide by clicking on the “VENDOR QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES” tab at NJSTART Vendor Support page. You should also watch the "Registration Video" located on the Welcome page of the NJSTART Vendor Support page.

Do I need to register in NJSTART if I’m a grantee or if I represent a government organization (Local, State or Federal)?
Grantees and government organizations should not register in NJSTART since this system is primarily for use only by procurement vendors (defined as organizations and individuals who provide goods and services to the State and receive Purchase Orders). Grantees, government agencies (Local, State or Federal), and other non-procurement vendors only need to complete the W-9 and return it to the State’s Office of Management & Budget (OMB). The hard copy W-9 is available and can be emailed to OMB at AAIUNIT@treas.nj.gov. There is also a form available at https://www.nj.gov for direct deposit .

How do I know if I'm registered in NJSTART?
You should have received an email confirmation when your registration was completed. You can also do a search for your company by using the Search bar at the top of the NJSTART home page at www.njstart.gov. Select “Vendors” then add your company or individual name in the blank field and hit the Search icon (magnifier). Your company will appear in the "Results.”

How do I get a State contract number?
A contract number is assigned ONLY when a vendor has submitted a Quote in response to a Bid Solicitation, complied with the requirements of the Bid Solicitation, AND is selected as the successful Vendor. A contract number may be used only for the goods/services specifically described in the contract. A contract number cannot be obtained by email, telephone request, or by enrolling in NJSTART. Refer to the "Doing Business with New Jersey" on the NJSTART homepage under Important Links for more information on the bidding and contract award processes.

How do I select my company's NIGP codes?
Your chosen NIGP codes are commodity/service codes that relate to your company and ensure that you are notified of upcoming procurement opportunities. You can choose your NIGP codes from the drop-down menu. If you are not familiar with the NIGP code system, or cannot find the codes that apply to your organization from the drop-down menu, you can use the keyword search to find the code or codes that apply to your organization.

How do I choose an NJSTART password?
Passwords for NJSTART are case sensitive and must contain a minimum of six characters, with at least one letter and one number.

How do I update my remit address?
Once registered, log into www.njstart.gov using the Login ID and Password you created when you registered in NJSTART, and ensure you're in the Seller Administrator role to make the necessary updates. Navigate to Maintain Organization Information, then click on "Maintain Addresses." Once there, review each Remit Address, ensure it has a Name, or add one if it's missing (e.g., Main Remit Address, Corporate Remit, etc.). You will also have to add an email address in the designated field; select one remit address as the Default address; and complete any other missing fields marked with an asterisk. The Quick Reference Guide entitled Company Information & User Access provides additional information regarding the process of adding, changing or deleting any of your organization's addresses.

How do I enter my banking information for electronic payments?
You can add your banking information after your initial registration has been completed. Sign in at www.njstart.gov using the Login ID and Password you created when you registered in NJSTART, and ensure you're in the Seller Administrator role to make the necessary updates. Navigate to Maintain Organization Information, then click on "Maintain Addresses." Once there, review each Remit Address, ensure it has a Name, or add one if it's missing (e.g., Main Remit Address, Corporate Remit, etc.). You will also have to add an email address in the designated field; select one remit address as the Default address; and complete any other missing fields marked with an asterisk.

Check the "EFT Enabled?" box to open the fields to enter your bank account description, country, bank name, account type, routing and account numbers to receive electronic (ACH) payments. Remember to save your changes. Note: If you find that a password has been saved in the Account Number field within NJSTART inadvertently, please disable your browser's auto-populate or form fill feature. Or, try clearing your browser's cache, or use a different browser. Then re-enter your account number, Save & Exit, or Save & Continue. Log back into NJSTART to double-check the account number and ensure that the correct account number has been saved. Some browsers save information like passwords and then enter it in some fields automatically when the auto-populate or form fill feature is turned on.

Also, navigate to the "Terms & Categories" section and review your selection for Category: 4 to ensure it matches your remittance preference (the EFT box must be checked if you want to receive electronic payments).

I forgot my Login ID and Password. How can I access my account?
When you click on the "Sign In" button at www.njstart.gov, you will see a link labeled "Login Assistance" at the bottom of the screen. Clicking on this link will take you through the process of resetting your Login ID or Password. You may also contact the NJSTART Help Desk via email at njstart@treas.nj.gov; if you would like to receive a callback please provide a contact name and phone number in your email and a representative from the NJSTART Vendor Administration Team will call you back. Please be ready to provide the company administrator's name and your tax ID, when you receive the callback.

I get a "ServiceException / SchemaError" message when trying to complete my registration, what should I do next?
A "ServiceException / SchemaError" message is triggered when certain NJSTART functions are attempted during non-business hours. Some State legacy systems that interface with NJSTART are only available each weekday from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. If you receive this error message when attempting to complete a registration, please try again the following business day after 7:00 a.m. Click on "Complete Registration," enter your Vendor ID # that is contained in the pre-registration email you received from NJSTART, and enter the email address you used to initiate the registration process. Then click on the "Summary" tab, review your information, and click on the "Complete Registration" button at the bottom of the page. That will clear the error message and you will receive an email confirmation indicating that your NJSTART account has been activated.

I tried to register but get a message indicating my tax ID already exists what should I do next?
Either someone from your company already registered, or your registration is still in-progress and is missing information. To complete the registration process, go to www.njstart.gov, click on the "Complete Registration" link at the bottom of the home page, then enter your Vendor # in the Supplier ID field (V000XXXXX) and the email address you used to create the account. That will get you back in the system to complete the missing information for your profile. If you still can't get in, email us at njstart@treas.nj.gov; if you would like to receive a callback please provide a contact name and phone number in your email and a representative from the NJSTART Vendor Administration Team will call you back.

Where do I get my Vendor ID #?
The Vendor ID # (Supplier ID) appears on the pre-registration email you should have received when you initiated the registration process and in the email confirmation vendors receive upon completion of the registration process. If you completed your registration successfully, you can do a search for your company by using the Search bar at the top of the NJSTART home page at www.njstart.gov. Select “Vendors” then add your company or individual name in the blank field and hit the Search icon (magnifier). Your company will appear in the "Results.” If you still can't find your Vendor ID #, email us at njstart@treas.nj.gov; if you would like to receive a callback please provide a contact name and phone number in your email and a representative from the NJSTART Vendor Administration Team will call you back.

The person who created our company's profile is no longer employed by us. How do we access the account?
Email us at njstart@treas.nj.gov using your company email address and provide us with the former company administrator's name and your company's tax ID. If you would like to receive a callback please provide a contact name and phone number in your email and representative from the NJSTART Vendor Administration Team will call you back.

I can't complete the categories and certifications section; some certifications won't allow me to check them off, how do I complete this information?
Only the first five categories have to be completed during the initial registration process, four of which are mandatory. There are also several categories in the Vendor Profile that allow vendors to complete certification requirements simply by clicking the appropriate checkboxes, thereby eliminating the need to upload some forms altogether. Vendor certifications that are grayed out cannot be completed by the vendor since they capture specific information that will be populated by other New Jersey systems of record. Certifications include Business Registration; Chapter 51/EO 117 Compliance - 2 Year Approval; Debarment; AA/EEOC Compliance; Small Business Category; Small Business Enterprise; Minority Owned Business Enterprise; Women Owned Business Enterprise; Veteran Owned Business; Disabled Veteran-Owned Business; and Insurance Liability Compliance.

Where do I send my W-9 form now?

There is a substitute W-9 certification that you can complete within NJSTART; paper copies are no longer required from procurement vendors who register in NJSTART

NJSTART Notices

Why did I receive a Bid Amendment notification from the Division of Purchase & Property?
Those Vendors who are on the bid holder list for a particular bid, either through commodity code registration in NJSTART or by acknowledging the bid in NJSTART, receive automatic notification of any Bid Amendment(s) that are released. To see the amendment you need to find the bid by either clicking on Open Bids, or by logging into your account and selecting the "Seller" role tab to find the bid.

Why haven't I received any email notifications about bidding opportunities?
Notifications about new bidding opportunities are based on the code(s) you selected during the registration process and are sent only to the main company email address listed in NJSTART. All open bids are available for viewing at www.njstart.gov by clicking on "Open Bids."

Why is there a red "Overall Validation Errors" message on my home page when I log into NJSTART?
If you see a red "Overall Validation Errors" message on your home page, click on it. Then click on "Maintain Addresses." Once there, please review each Remit Address, ensure it has a Name, or add one if it's missing (e.g., Main Remit Address, Corporate Remit, etc.). You will also have to add an email address in the designated field; select one remit address as the Default address; and complete any other missing fields marked with an asterisk, especially your bank account description, country, and bank name if you want to receive electronic (ACH) payments. Remember to Save your changes. Also, navigate to the "Terms & Categories" section and review your selection for Category: 4 to ensure it matches your remittance preference (the EFT box must be checked if you want to receive electronic payments).

I have not received an expected payment from the State; can you tell me the status?
Click on the PO tab from the Seller menu. Click directly on the Purchase Order that the invoice relates to. Next, click directly on the Invoice Number. Finally, the Invoice Summary tab will show the information that is available to vendors. The Paid-BankId/CheckNbr field will contain the check number that was issued.

There is also a Vendor Payment Inquiry (VPI) tool available directly through the State's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to check on the status of payments. Requests for VPI can be emailed to njstart@treas.nj.gov and will be forwarded to OMB.

How can I search for Invoices I submitted?
The Invoice Search function only works for invoices that were created by Vendors within their NJSTART Vendor Profile. In order to search for Invoices, sign in and click the Documents drop down below the person icon. Click the Search button at the bottom of the dropdown menu. This will pull up the Invoice Search section, where an advanced search can be conducted for Vendor generated Invoices.

NJSTART Quote Submission

How do I submit a quote?
Please read the Bid Solicitation in its entirety as well as the other attachments. Also read the Quick Reference Guide entitled "Submit a Quote". There is also a video available entitled "Submit a Quote" on the NJSTART Vendor Support page under the "VENDOR QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES" tab.

Can I submit my Quote by fax or email?
In accordance with the Division’s governing regulations, Quotes cannot be accepted by email or fax. In order to be eligible for consideration for a contract award the Quote should be submitted through the Division’s NJSTART eProcurement system. N.J.A.C. 17:12-2.2. Please carefully read the Bid Solicitation and other attachments for instructions on how to submit your Quote. Additionally, the Division has a Vendor Quick Reference Guide (QRG) and a video which provide Vendors with step-by-step instructions on how to submit a Quote in NJSTART. Both the QRG and the video are entitled “Submit a Quote,” and are available on the NJSTART website.

Can I submit a hard copy/paper Quote?
All Quotes shall be submitted electronically through NJSTART.

Vendors may refer to the "Vendor Registration" and "Submit a Quote" Quick Reference Guides for instructions on how to enroll in NJSTART and how to submit an electronic Quote through NJSTART. The Quick Reference Guide entitled "Submit a Quote" is available.

Additionally, to ensure that you have properly submitted the required documents you may also review the Vendor Quick Reference Guide entitled "How to Review a Submitted Quote" which is available. https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/purchase/njstart/pdf/HowtoReviewaSubmittedQuote.pdf.

Answers to Frequently asked Questions and all Quick Reference Guides are located on the NJSTART Vendor Support Page. If further assistance is needed, please email the NJSTART Vendor Administration Team at njstart@treas.nj.gov.

Can the Quote submission deadline be extended?
The date and time of the Quote opening is indicated on the Bid Solicitation cover sheet and on the "Summary" Tab of the Bid Solicitation webpage within NJSTART. If the Quote opening deadline has been revised, the new Quote opening deadline shall be shown on the posted Bid Amendment and on the "Summary" Tab of the Bid Solicitation webpage within NJSTART.

Any extension to the Quote opening will be announced through a Bid Amendment and will be advertised a minimum of seven business days prior to the scheduled bid opening. N.J.A.C. 17:12-2.1 (b).

In accordance with the Bid Solicitation instructions, in order to be considered for award, the Quote must be received by the Procurement Bureau of the Division at the appropriate location by the required time. Vendors shall submit a Quote electronically through NJSTART.

Should I check that I have properly completed and attached all of the required documents with my submitted Quote?
Yes. Prior to the Quote Opening Deadline, a Vendor should review the documents comprising the submitted Quote to ensure that all of the required documents have been completed and attached. Oftentimes a Quote is deemed non-responsive because a Vendor fails to attach a required form or attaches a blank form. To review a submitted Quote a Vendor should log into NJSTART and review each document attached to the Quote submission. Instructions on how to review a submitted Quote can be found in the Quick Reference Guide entitled How to Review a Submitted Quote which is available on the NJSTART Vendor Support Page under Vendor Reference Guides.

What forms need to be submitted with the Quote? Where can I find the forms?
Please refer to the Bid Solicitation for those forms, certification and other documents which are required to be submitted with a Quote. All standard State forms necessary for the Quote submission are identified in each Bid Solicitation and are located on the Division's website.

When trying to open a Portable Document Format (PDF) I am receiving an error message and am unable to access the PDF. How should I proceed?
It is recommended that users disable the built in PDF viewer in their browser, download the PDF document and view it using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

I would like to withdraw my submitted Quote or a portion of a submitted Quote, how do I do that?
Please refer to the "Submit a Quote" Quick Reference Guides for instructions on how to withdraw a submitted Quote.

Bid Solicitation Question and Answer Period

How do I submit a question about an open Bid Solicitation during the Question & Answer period?
Please refer to the Bid Solicitation Section entitled "Electronic Question and Answer Period" for guidance on how to submit a question related to a specific procurement. The cut-off date for the submission of a question(s) relating to a specific procurement is indicated on the Bid Solicitation cover page. A Vendor shall not contact the Using Agency and/or a Procurement Bureau employee directly, in person, by telephone or by e-mail, concerning the procurement. Additional information about the Electronic Question and Answer Period (Q&A) process is provided within the Vendor Quick Reference Guide entitled "Submit a Quote." Questions related to specific Bid Solicitations should not be submitted through the NJSTART mailbox.

When will you post answers to questions received?
Answers to questions received from Vendors prior to the close of the Question and Answer Period will be posted by Bid Amendment as a File Attachment on the "Summary" Tab of the Bid Solicitation and will become part of the Bid Solicitation and part of any Contract awarded as a result of the Bid Solicitation. In accordance with the Bid Solicitation instructions: "There are no designated dates for release of Bid Amendments.”

Can I review the answers to questions posed even if I did not submit a question? Where can I review the answers to questions posed during Q&A?
If questions were received from Vendors prior to the close of the Question and Answer Period, answers to such questions will be posted by Bid Amendment as a File Attachment on the "Summary" Tab of the Bid Solicitation and will become part of the Bid Solicitation and part of any Contract awarded as a result of the Bid Solicitation.

The Q&A period expired but I still have questions:
The timeframe for submitting a question(s) for the specific procurement has closed. Please refer to the Bid Solicitation and posted Bid Amendment(s), Attachment(s), News items, and/or Vendor Communication(s) posted on NJSTART and/or the Division of Purchase and Property's website for information regarding the procurement. You should also refer to the Division's Vendor Quick Reference Guides for assistance in submitting a Quote using NJSTART. A Vendor shall not contact the Using Agency and/or a Procurement Bureau employee directly, in person, by telephone or by e-mail, concerning the procurement. Questions related to a specific procurement should not be submitted through the NJSTART mailbox.

When will you post answers to questions submitted for an specific Bid Solicitation?
If questions were received from Vendors prior to the close of the Question and Answer Period, answers to such questions will be posted by Bid Amendment as a File Attachment on the "Summary" Tab of the Bid Solicitation and will become part of the Bid Solicitation and part of any Contract awarded as a result of the Bid Solicitation.

In accordance with the Bid Solicitation instructions: "There are no designated dates for release of Bid Amendments. Those Vendors who are on the bid holder list either through commodity code registration in NJSTART or by acknowledging the bid in NJSTART should receive notification of any Bid Amendment(s). If a Vendor is not on the bid holder list to receive notifications related to a Bid Solicitation, Bid Amendments are still viewable on the "Summary" Tab of the Bid Solicitation in NJSTART."

All Bid Amendments, including the posting of answers to submitted questions will be advertised a minimum of seven business days prior to the scheduled bid opening. N.J.A.C. 17:12-2.1 (b).

A Vendor shall not contact the Using Agency and/or a Procurement Bureau employee directly, in person, by telephone or by e-mail, concerning the procurement. Questions related to a specific procurement should not be submitted through the NJSTART mailbox or help line.

The Bid Solicitation references set aside goals for Small Business and/or Disabled Veteran Owned Business, can you tell me what those goals are?
Set-aside goals are set forth in New Jersey statute and/or regulation. The established goals are for State contracting entities, not Vendors. If a Vendor intends to be a subcontractor to perform contract work, it should be guided by the instructions set forth in the Bid Solicitation regarding the use of subcontractors.

Will the State allow Vendors to take exception to any of the Standard Terms and Conditions?
As stated in the Bid Solicitation instructions "Questions regarding the SSTC proposed exceptions to mandatory requirements, including the Special and Standard Terms and Conditions, must be posed during the Electronic Question and Answer period and shall contain the Vendor's suggested changes and the reason(s) for the suggested changes." Additionally "Quotes including Vendor proposed terms and conditions may be accepted, but Vendor proposed terms or conditions that conflict with those contained in the Bid Solicitation, or that diminish the State's rights under any Blanket P.O. resulting from the Bid Solicitation, may render a Quote non-responsive."

Quote Evaluation

What is the status of the evaluation of the Quotes received? When will a Contract be awarded?
The Division of Purchase and Property is unable to provide any comment regarding the status of the evaluation of the Quotes received by the Division's Procurement Bureau. Once the evaluation of the Quotes received is completed, all Vendors who submitted Quotes will receive written notification of the intended Contract award.

I received a request that I submit a Best and Final Offer (BAFO), how do I respond to the request?
Please review the Bid Solicitation and the BAFO request letter you received from the Procurement Bureau for information and instruction on how to respond to the request. The NJSTART Vendor Administration Team is unable to provide you with information regarding the evaluation of Quotes received by the Division. The Bid Solicitation describes the criteria that will be used to evaluate and score the submitted Quotes.

Can the State disclose the relative weights of the criteria?
While these criteria are set prior to Quote opening date, the State chooses not to disclose these relative weights until after the Notice to Award. There is no fixed weighting between the criteria and the criteria identified are unique to each procurement. The State does not want Bidders attempting to increase their scores by emphasizing one particular criteria over another.

When will be I be notified of the award?
There are no designated dates for when an award will be made. A Notice of Intent to Award will be issued once the evaluation is complete.

Small Business / Minority Owned Business / Women Owned Business / Veteran Owned Business / Disabled Veteran Owned Business

I am certified as a Small Business / Minority Owned Business / Women Owned Business / Veteran Owned Business /Disabled Veteran Owned Business and certification section of my profile is incorrect, how can I correct this?
For any questions regarding your certification status, please contact the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Small Business Registration and M/WBE Certification Services Unit at 609-292-2146 or the Revenue General Inquiry Form.

I do not understand the SBE/DVOE Subcontractor Set-Aside as described in the Bid Solicitation. We have subcontractors we use on all of our Contracts, can I not use them for this Contract?
The Subcontracting Set-Aside means that IF and ONLY IF you intend to subcontract a portion of the scope of work, you should make a good faith effort to find a SBE or DVOE Subcontractor and use them. If you make a good faith effort to find a suitable subcontractor and you are NOT able to find one that is willing and able to perform, then you can use a non-SBE or non-DVOE subcontractor. You should document your good faith effort, because the State will need to see what you did to find a suitable SBE or DVOE subcontractor. Please refer to the Bid Solicitation for what constitutes a proper good faith effort and what documentation you should be able to show.

Business Registration Certificate

I already registered and have a Business Registration Certificate (BRC). Why do I have to register in NJSTART again?
The Business Registration Certificate (BRC) process is a different process administered through the State's Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services.

Why was the name of my company changed in NJSTART?
In an effort to ensure the accuracy of all profile records, we match all vendor legal names in NJSTART against the taxpayer names on Business Registration Certificates on file with the State of New Jersey's Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services. This search allows us to identify any discrepancies between the legal name entered in NJSTART and the taxpayer name on the Business Registration Certificate (BRC). In cases where an update is required, we update the NJSTART record to reflect the correct vendor legal taxpayer name. The Vendor Legal Name in NJSTART should match the taxpayer name that appears on your organization's BRC. If you registered as an individual or sole proprietor, your name should appear as Last Name, First Name in the Vendor Legal Name field.

Why is my Business Registration Certificate (BRC) status inactive in NJSTART?
A business is not currently eligible for a Business Registration Certificate (BRC) if it does not have a current Certificate of Formation or Authorization from the New Jersey State Treasurer. All businesses that are legal entities, including corporations, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, or limited partnerships must have a current Certificate of Formation or Authorization on file with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services to receive a BRC. Businesses may file for a Certificate of Formation or Authorization online. For all for-profit legal entities, there is a statutory fee of $125 to obtain the appropriate certificate. Please note that all businesses are required to file Annual Reports for each year the business remains registered in NJ. The Statutory Filing Fee for Annual Reports is $75 per year. Additional information is available on the Division of Revenue's website or by calling 609-292-9292

How do I obtain an AAEEO Certificate?
The EEO AA-302 Employee Information Report can now be submitted electronically and electronic payments (credit card and e-check) for the $150 certificate fee can also be completed at Public Contracts Equal Employment Opportunity Compliance Monitoring Program. Note: please follow the instructions to create an account to use the AAEEO portal. Once a vendor completes the online process and the payment is approved, they will receive an email providing instructions on how to print their EEO AA-302 Employee Information Report Certificate. The new online features will help expedite the process. For any vendor who is unable to file electronically, a hard copy of the form is still available online, and checks may also be mailed to CCAU. You may also contact our AAEEO unit directly via email at ccau.mailbox@treas.nj.gov or call 609-292-5473 to check on the status of your certification after the form and payment have been processed.

Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act

Where do I send the Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act report?
All questions regarding the Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act must be directed to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. All compliance instructions regarding this act can be found on the website.

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