7. The regulations promulgated by the State Treasurer pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2020, c.59 (C. 52:34A-5) shall require that electronic procurement processes meet certain criteria, which may include, but shall not be limited to, the following requirements:

a. allow for a business or company that creates or provides software to effectuate electronic procurement to provide those services pursuant to P.L.2020, c.59 (C. 52:34A-1 et al.), if the business or company has prior experience providing electronic procurement services to the State and to other public entities, including, but not limited to, experience prior to the effective date of P.L.2020, c.59 (C. 52:34A-1 et al.);

b. allow public contracting units to advertise bids and distribute bidding documents including plans and specifications;

c. be a closed loop system that allows contractors, vendors, and bidders, to receive bid solicitations and documentation, as well as submit bids electronically;

d. provide a digital lockbox that ensures bid information cannot be accessed by a third party before the bid deadline, including an electronic bidding servicer or the State;

e. allow bids to be encrypted upon submission and when in the digital lockbox;

f. use digital signature technology and provide for identity verification;

g. allow for electronic bid validation;

h. allow bids to be withdrawn and resubmitted by the vendor or bidder at any point up to the published bid deadline;

i. allow addenda to be issued electronically with addenda automatically applied to the online bid form;

j. provide capabilities to create and edit templates of bid forms;

k. provide the means for the State to require data types, including but not limited to numeric prices;

l. alert contractors, vendors, and bidders of missing required data;

m. provide email notification to contractors, vendors, and bidders of issuance of bid advertisement and addenda;

n. provide commodity or classification codes as required by the contracting agency to allow for targeted notifications to contractors, vendors, and bidders;

o. provide system implementation services and training to public contracting units at no cost; and

p. offer scheduled training webinars for contractors, vendors, and bidders at no cost.

L.2020, c.59, s.7.