27:1B-21.36 New Jersey Transportation Research Center.

4. a. There is hereby established within the Department of Transportation, the New Jersey Transportation Research Center, hereinafter referred to as the center.

b. The center shall be located within the Department of Transportation, and the center shall award research contracts to New Jersey public research institutions of higher education to conduct the research activities of the center. The award of those research contracts shall be subject to all relevant existing State and federally established public bidding regulations and processes.

c. The center shall identify specific areas of transportation expertise for New Jersey public research institutions of higher education, where all research undertaken by the center in that area of expertise is to occur, and shall be subject to all relevant existing State and federally established public bidding regulations and processes.

d. The Commissioner of Transportation shall appoint a director for the center. The duties of the director shall include but not be limited to:

(1) Administering and operating the center;

(2) Overseeing research undertaken by the center;

(3) Establishing and maintaining relationships with New Jersey public research institutions of higher education;

(4) Supporting New Jersey public research institutions of higher education in obtaining and maintaining University Transportation Center status under the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration's University Transportation Center Program; and

(5) Authorizing competitive bidding for research contracts to include entities in addition to New Jersey public research institutions of higher education, notwithstanding the provisions of subsections b. and c. of this section to the contrary, after making a written determination that the department stands to benefit from additional competition in terms of quality of work product, timeliness of work product delivery, or availability of expertise in one or more specific transportation areas.

e. For purposes of this section, "entities" means an entity that is organized as a non-profit organization. "Entities" shall not include a municipal planning organization or a municipal planning organization-related entity, regardless of whether it is organized as a non-profit organization.

L.2019, c.196, s.4.