New Jersey Turnpike Authority Awards $1.7 Billion E-ZPass Contract to TransCore, Ends 20-Year Run with Conduent

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

East Rutherford NJ, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority has officially awarded a $1.7 billion contract to TransCore for the management of E-ZPass services, ending a two-decade-long partnership with Newark-based Conduent. A bid protest filed by Conduent was rejected by the Turnpike Authority’s hearing officer, allowing the state to move forward with its decision.

This contract represents one of the most significant transitions in tolling technology and back-office operations in New Jersey’s history.

📝 Why the Bid Protest Was Rejected

In a detailed 107-page ruling, Thomas Holl, Director of Law and the designated hearing officer for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, dismissed Conduent’s objections, calling them “without merit.”

Despite Conduent offering a bid that was $250 million cheaper, Holl defended the award to TransCore on the basis of quality, innovation, and domestic labor usage.

Key factors in the rejection included:

• Unclear labor cost details and outsourcing concerns.

• Inadequate demonstration of new software capabilities.

• TransCore’s commitment to 100% U.S.-based labor.

• Evaluation scoring system that included qualitative and price-based factors.

💬 Conduent’s Claims vs. Authority’s Response

Conduent raised several issues in its protest:

• Unfair negotiations after the best and final offer period.

• Improper evaluation weight given to non-price factors.

• Concerns over foreign ownership of TransCore and incomplete disclosures.

However, Holl stated that Conduent’s criticisms were hypocritical, pointing out that Conduent itself had benefitted from the same evaluation methods in past procurement cycles. He also highlighted that Conduent planned to outsource core functions to India and Guatemala, while TransCore offered an all-domestic labor solution — a key point that helped tip the scales.

“The public is entitled to receive services that are both economical and competently delivered,” said Holl.

🔐 Privacy and Foreign Ownership Concerns

Conduent also flagged TransCore’s ownership ties to Singapore-based ST Engineering, which had a former board member affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. That member resigned in 2023, and TransCore maintains it has no operational ties to China.

TransCore has a National Security Agreement with the U.S. Treasury and Department of Justice, ensuring that no private data can be accessed by its parent company or affiliates.

Still, some New Jersey lawmakers have expressed ongoing concerns about data privacy and national security, despite the legal safeguards in place.

🛣️ What’s Next for E-ZPass in New Jersey?

The awarded contract covers the complex infrastructure behind E-ZPass, including:

• Back-office systems

• Transponder and license plate processing

• Billing and customer service

• Violation tracking and enforcement

TransCore, based in Tennessee, has been steadily expanding its role in tolling systems nationwide and has successfully transitioned systems away from Conduent in other states.

“We are excited that toll authorities recognize TransCore as a partner that drives positive change,” said Whitt Hall, TransCore CEO.

🔍 Transparency in the Bidding Process

Holl emphasized that procurement laws in New Jersey discourage vendors from challenging processes they once supported — especially after seeing less favorable results.

“Our procurement law disapproves of proposers who wish to have their cake and eat it too,” he said.

Tell your story #TheRidgewoodblog , #Indpendentnews, #information, #advertise, #guestpost, #affiliatemarketing,#NorthJersey, #NJ , #News, #localnews, #bergencounty, #sponsoredpost, #SponsoredContent, #contentplacement , #linkplacement, Email: Onlyonesmallvoice@gmail.com