T2551 Credit Card Payment Processing

The State of New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Purchase and Property is soliciting bids for comprehensive credit card payment processing services through Bid Solicitation #26DPP01223. The procurement seeks a single contractor to provide Acquiring Processor services capable of processing payments via credit cards, debit cards, Zelle, Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other electronic payment methods for Executive and Judicial Branch agencies. Vendors must support both card-present and card-not-present transactions, provide Point of Sale equipment at multiple state facilities, offer a Virtual Terminal for online transaction management, and establish unlimited Merchant Identification Numbers tailored to agency needs. The base contract term is five years with two optional one-year extensions, with the state processing approximately 12.8 million credit card transactions totaling $1.4 billion in Fiscal Year 2025. Key deliverables include 24/7/365 customer support, technical support, Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard compliance, and annual PCI compliance certification. The solicitation includes a comprehensive evaluation process with specific submission requirements, including a State-Supplied Price Sheet and detailed technical specifications. Critical dates include an optional pre-quote conference on January 22, 2026, electronic question submissions due by February 2, 2026, and quote opening on April 2, 2026.

No specific set-aside designations are noted for this procurement, meaning the opportunity is open to all qualified vendors. The state expects full implementation within 180 calendar days of contract award, with the contractor required to provide professional liability insurance of at least $5,000,000. Pricing is structured across two models: a Transaction Fee Model and a Managed Service Fee Model, with pricing tiers based on transaction volumes and amounts. The state will assess a 1% Procurement Efficiency Program Fee quarterly based on net purchases by authorized state and cooperative purchasing participants. Existing infrastructure includes complex payment processing systems for both Executive and Judicial Branches, with vendors required to integrate seamlessly with current web services and client applications. While no incumbent vendor is explicitly mentioned, the solicitation indicates a significant increase in transaction volume (160% increase in transaction count and 250% increase in payment value) compared to the previous contract period. The state retains ownership of all deliverables and data, with the contractor receiving a non-exclusive, royalty-free license for contract purposes.