Private collection of municipal court debt

The Township of Toms River, located in Ocean County, New Jersey, is soliciting bids for a private collection agency to recover delinquent municipal court debt through Bid Number BID-2024-144. The procurement seeks a qualified collection agency to collect outstanding fines, penalties, and court-imposed assessments, with specific requirements including a minimum of three years of debt collection experience and compliance with New Jersey Supreme Court procedures and federal/state debt collection laws. The initial contract period will span 24 consecutive months, with potential extensions for two additional one-year periods. Bidders must demonstrate a proven track record in debt collection, provide comprehensive reporting, maintain confidential records, and follow strict communication guidelines with debtors. The bid is due on April 4, 2024, at 10:30 am, and the successful agency will be permitted to assess an administrative fee not exceeding 22% of collected amounts, which will be paid directly by debtors.

The contract does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Bidding organizations must be licensed collection agencies with the ability to comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and provide secure technological solutions for account management and tracking. The agency must also provide a fidelity bond and maintain appropriate insurance coverage. While specific budget ranges are not detailed in the documentation, the contract will involve collecting outstanding municipal court debt, with the collection agency earning a percentage of recovered funds. Technological requirements include secure platforms for account management, detailed documentation tracking, and comprehensive reporting mechanisms. The township will evaluate bidders based on their experience, technological capabilities, compliance history, and ability to effectively and ethically collect municipal court debt.