RM-178825

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority is soliciting proposals under RFP RM-178825 for comprehensive Merchant Services related to the E-ZPass system, with a deadline for submissions on June 9, 2026. The procurement, classified under NAICS 522320 and targeted toward state and local government entities, seeks a contractor to deliver end-to-end merchant services including payment processing, account management, fraud prevention, data security, and operational support aligned with state-specific requirements. The contract performance is expected to occur entirely within New Jersey, with critical systems and operations required to remain within the United States unless prior written approval is obtained for any offshore activity. The scope mandates the development and maintenance of a mobile application, monthly performance reporting, system integration, and compliance with stringent cybersecurity, PCI DSS, PII, and ADA standards. Key deliverables include the System Operational Acceptance Testing report, SOC 1 Type II audit, KPI dashboards, and as-built documentation, all subject to approval by NJTA. Proposals must include a suite of mandatory exhibits covering moral integrity, merchant services terms, certification of non-involvement in prohibited Russian or Belarusian activities, affirmative action evidence, ownership disclosure, and disclosure of investment activities in Iran. Offerors must also declare their size status under New Jersey’s Small Business Enterprise program, with non-SBE proposers required to demonstrate good faith efforts to award at least 25% of contract value to state-certified minority, women, or disadvantaged subcontractors. Evaluation will follow a trade-off approach weighing Price at 25%, followed by Project Team Qualifications (20%), Approach to Merchant Services (15%), Security and Risk Management (15%), Third-Party Payment Solutions (15%), Schedule and Project Plan (5%), and System Development (5%). The period of performance spans up to 12 years, including a potential two-year extension, with major milestones tied to system design, testing, and go-live phases. Additional special requirements include strict access control protocols, prohibition of personal electronic devices in operational centers, mandatory video surveillance with three-month retention, and binding controls over key personnel including pre-approval for assignment, immediate access revocation upon termination, and strict replacement procedures. No physical delivery or FOB terms apply, as this is a services-based contract, and invoicing details, payment office information, and accounting codes are not specified in the solicitation. All proposals must be submitted electronically via the Bid Express portal, adhering to a