2. a. A board of education may, by resolution approved by a majority of the board of education and subject to the provisions of subsection b. of this section, disqualify a bidder who would otherwise be determined to be the lowest responsible bidder for a pupil transportation contract, if the board of education finds that it has had prior negative experience with the bidder. The disqualification shall be for a reasonable, defined period of time which shall not exceed three years.

b. As used in this section, “prior negative experience” means any of the following:

(1) the bidder has been determined to be “nonperforming” under a pupil transportation contract after a hearing which shall include the bidder, the superintendent of schools, and the county superintendent of schools. The county superintendent of schools shall make the determination as to nonperformance and this determination may be appealed to the Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education, as provided by law;

(2) the bidder defaulted on a transportation contract thereby requiring the board of education to utilize the services of another contractor to complete the contract;

(3) the bidder defaulted on a transportation contract thereby requiring the board of education to look to the bidder’s surety for completion of the contract or tender of the costs of completion; or

(4) the bidder has any ownership interest in any contractor that had prior negative experience with the board of education as described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection or in any contractor that is debarred from bidding on a pupil transportation contract pursuant to the provisions of section 3 of P.L.2021, c.307 (C. 18A:39-11.5).

L.2005,c.84,s.2; amended 2021, c.307, s.2.