DIGITAL LITERACY INTERVENTION PROGRAM

The Paterson Public School District will comply with the New Jersey Public School Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-1, et seq. The District shall not knowingly extend favoritism to any contractor. Orders shall be placed on the basis of quality, price and timely service. The District shall not solicit funds or materials from contractors. Employees shall not seek to procure goods and services for their own use using District's discounts or tax exempt status. No purchases will be made knowingly from a District employee or from a member of the immediate household of an employee. The Department of Purchasing believes in the dignity of their office, the real worth of the service rendered by their governmental agency and strives to maintain high standards of ethics, conduct and service. Public purchasing employees are required to maintain complete independence and impartiality in dealings with contractors, both in fact and in appearance, in order to preserve the integrity of the competitive

process and to ensure there is a public confidence that contracts are awarded equitably economically and in full compliance with Public School Contracts Law. In order to avoid the possibility of any misunderstanding regarding compliance with the law and regarding any appearance of impropriety relative to the competitive process for awarding contracts, purchasing staff shall not accept anything of value offered from contractors. SOLICITATION OR ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS In accordance with the School Ethics Act, N.J.S.A. 18A:12-21, et seq, no school district employee shall solicit, receive or agree to receive any compensation, reward, employment, gift, meal, honorarium, travel, reimbursement, or any other thing of value from any person, firm, corporation, association, partnership or business that is the recipient of, or a potential Bidder for, or applicant for any contract, professional services contract, or purchase order from the school district. Any school district employee who violates the terms of the School Ethics Act will be subject to consequences which may include, but are not limited to, suspension, termination of employment, withholding of annual increments or demotion. DOING BUSINESS WITH ONE’S AGENCY No employee of the District shall either directly or indirectly purchase goods and/or services for their own agency from any business entity of which their spouse or relative has a material interest. UNAUTHORIZED COMPENSATION No employee of the District shall, at any time, accept any compensation, payment or thing of value when such employee knows, or with the exercise of reasonable care, should know that the compensation, payment or thing of value was given to influence a vote or other action in which the officer or employee was expected to participate in their official capacity. 4 RELATIONS WITH VENDORS The Board of Education shall maintain honest and ethical relations with contractors and shall guard against favoritism, improvidence, extravagance, and corruption in its contracting processes and practices. The Board will not vote upon or award any contract in the amount of $17,500 or greater to any business entity which has made a contribution reportable by the recipient under P.L. 1973, c. 83 (codified at N.J.S.A. 19:44A-1, et seq.) to a member of the Board of Education during the preceding one-year period. Contributions reportable by the recipient under P.L. 1973, c. 83 (codified at N.J.S.A. 19:44A-1, et seq.) to any member of the school Board from any business entity doing business with the school district are prohibited during the term of a contract. The Commissioner shall take appropriate action for any violations. When a business entity is a natural person, a contribution by that person’s spouse or child that resides therewith, shall be deemed to be a contribution by the business entity. Where a business entity is other than a natural person, a contribution by any person or other business entity having an interest therein shall be deemed to be a contribution by the business entity. The disclosure requirement set forth in section 2 of P.L. 2005, c. 271 (codified at N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.26) also shall apply when the contract is required by law to be publicly advertised for bids. This subsection shall not apply to a contract when a school district emergency requires the immediate delivery of goods or services and shall not apply to contributions made prior to the effective date of these regulations. Legal Reference: N.J.S.A. 19:44A-1, et seq.; N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-6.3 5 TO: All Bidders FROM: Purchasing Department RE: New Jersey Sales Tax Local school districts, as political subdivisions of the State of New Jersey, are exempt from the New Jersey Sales and Use taxes, pursuant to Section 9(a) of the New Jersey Sales and Use Tax Act when purchasing items for their own use such as desks, chairs, office equipment, cleaning supplies, etc. When purc