Treasury to Showcase Contracting Opportunities on Historic State House Renovation for Small, Minority, Women, and Veteran Subcontractors

Networking and Outreach Event Will Be Held on March 12

POSTPONED DUE TO PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS RE: CORONAVIRUS

(TRENTON) – With the historic renovation of the State House poised to enter full swing, the State Treasury Department will be hosting a networking forum next week to help small, minority, women, and veteran-owned subcontracting companies (SMWVBEs) explore opportunities to work on the project.

The Small, Minority, Women, and Veteran-Owned Subcontractor Opportunity Event will take place on Thursday, March 12, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in the George Washington Ballroom of The War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton, NJ. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP beforehand and bring plenty of business cards to take advantage of one-on-one networking opportunities.

The event builds on the success of two previous forums Treasury co-hosted with the NJ Economic Development Authority last year, prior to commencement of construction on the new State Health Department and Taxation Division buildings. As a result, 14 of the 23 professional services providers and 112 of the 169 subcontractors hired to work on these two building projects are SMWVBEs.

“The historical significance of this project cannot be overstated. As we work to restore the ‘people’s house’ to its former glory, it’s important that the project reflects the diverse make-up of our State today,” said State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio. “The Murphy administration is committed to ensuring an inclusive and level playing field when it comes to doing business in New Jersey. We encourage all businesses interested in subcontracting opportunities to come out and learn more about getting involved with this project or future projects down the road.”

The entire renovation project is being overseen at the State level by the New Jersey Building Authority, an “in but not of” agency of Treasury, while procurement authority is being handled by Treasury’s Division of Property Management and Construction (DPMC). Turner Construction is the Construction Management Firm for the project, bringing well over a century of experience to the table, while the general contractor, Daniel J. Keating Co., boasts a vast portfolio of accomplishments.

In addition to being subject to the Prevailing Wage Act and wage and hour laws, the State has also put in place a Project Labor Agreement, which applies to all contractors and subcontractors on the project. The contract with Keating also requires the company to make an effort to subcontract with Small Business Enterprise (SBE) firms and report workforce demographics to Treasury, along with efforts to reach the Mercer County female and minority workforce participation targets.

Representatives from both Turner and Keating will be on hand to detail the subcontractor opportunities that will be available across a wide range of trades and classifications.

Additionally, representatives from the following agencies will be on hand to offer information and guidance on how to get certified and compete for state contracts, along with other valuable expertise: the Department of the Treasury, the NJ Building Authority, the NJ Department of Labor, the NJ Business Action Center, the NJ Economic Development Authority, the State Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the NJ Historic Preservation Trust Office, the County of Mercer, the City of Trenton, the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of NJ, and the NJ Veterans Chamber of Commerce.

Subcontractors and vendors who cannot attend, but are interested in learning about opportunities related to the State House renovation, should contact Rich Kelly of Daniel J. Keating Co. at 610-664-4550.

The general contracting phase of the comprehensive $283 million renovation and restoration of the executive portion of the State House is expected to be completed at the end of 2022. Prior to entering this phase, extensive research, investigation, demolition, selective removals, and design were completed in a very structured manner to preserve and restore as much of the historic building fabric as possible. The completed project will restore and renovate the Executive State House (ESH) to the 1910 period of historical significance while including modern building systems that are seamlessly integrated into the historic structure.

The original State House dates to 1792 and is the second oldest continuously operated state house in the nation, second only to Maryland’s. The current ESH is the result of eighteen building campaigns dating from the 1790’s through the 1950’s. Treasury noted that no other state house has experienced nearly as many additions. The last comprehensive renovation occurred over a century ago.