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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO UNIDINE CORPORATION TO PROVIDE CONTRACTED FOOD SERVICES FOR PREAKNESS HEALTHCARE CENTER, PURSUANT TO N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1, ET SEQ.
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WHEREAS, the County of Passaic (“County”) is a body politic and corporate pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:18-1 and vested with all rights contained therein; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:20-1, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Passaic (“Board”) is vested with managing the property, finances, and affairs of the County; and
WHEREAS, Preakness Healthcare Center is a New Jersey Department of Health licensed, 406-bed skilled nursing facility that is owned and operated by the Board; and
WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1 authorizes the County to utilize competitive contracting in lieu of public bidding for procurement of specialized goods and services, the price of which exceeds the bid threshold; and
WHEREAS, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1(g) specifically authorizes the County to utilize competitive contracting to procure contracted food services; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.3, on June 17, 2025, the Board approved Resolution No. R-25-528, authorizing the use of competitive contracting for the procurement of contracted food services, and thereafter, the Passaic County Purchasing Agent issued RFP-26-001, Contracted Food Services for Passaic County at Preakness Healthcare Center (“RFP-26-001”), seeking a qualified vendor to provide contracted food services for Preakness Healthcare Center; and
WHEREAS, on July 29, 2025, the Purchasing Agent unsealed responses to RFP-26-001, and in accordance with the law, a Review Committee was convened to review and score the responses to RFP-26-001; and
WHEREAS, in a memorandum dated October 29, 2025, attached hereto and made part of this Resolution, the Review Committee recommended a contract award to Unidine Corporation to provide contracted food services for Preakness Healthcare Center for a two-year contract term, commencing on January 1, 2026 and expiring on December 31, 2027, for a total amount of ten million fifty-nine thousand fifty-one dollars and eighty-four ($10,059,051.84), with the County retaining three (3) one (1) year options to be exercised at the discretion of the Board; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.4, this contract is being awarded under a fair and open procurement process, which requires that a contract be: publicly advertised in sufficient time to give notice in advance of the contract; awarded under a process that provides for public solicitation of proposals or qualifications; awarded and disclosed under criteria established in writing by the public entity prior to the solicitation of proposals or qualifications; and publicly opened and announced when awarded; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:32-60-1, et seq., Unidine Corporation executed the Non-Involvement in Prohibited Activities in Russia or Belarus Certification, attached hereto and made part of this Resolution, certifying that it is not involved in prohibited activities in Russia and Belarus, and the County confirmed that said vendor is not identified on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list created by the Office of Foreign Assets Control; and
WHEREAS, funds are available in any account that may be deemed appropriate by the Chief Financial Officer or his designee, and the availability of funds has been contingently certified by the Chief Financial Officer subject to sufficient funds being appropriated by the Board in the 2026 and/or subsequent County budget(s), which is attached hereto and made part of this Resolution; and
WHEREAS, this matter was discussed at the October 29, 2025, Administration and Finance Committee meeting, and is being recommended to the Board for approval.
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1, et seq., the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Passaic authorizes the award of a contract to Unidine Corporation to provide contracted food services for Preakness Healthcare Center for a two-year contract term, commencing on January 1, 2026 and expiring on December 31, 2027, for a total amount of ten million fifty-nine thousand fifty-one dollars and eighty-four ($10,059,051.84), with the County retaining three (3) one (1) year options to be exercised at the discretion of the Board, all in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in RFP-26-001.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Board shall print, in the official newspaper, a brief notice stating the nature, duration, service, and amount of the contract awarded to Unidine Corporation, and maintain a copy of this Resolution on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Clerk to the Board.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Board, County Counsel, Purchasing Agent, Executive Director of Preakness Healthcare Center, and Director of the Board are authorized to take any action necessary to carry out the purpose of this Resolution.
NB November 17, 2025