3. A proposal by a private agency to provide inspection or plan review services to a municipality to administer the provisions of the “State Uniform Construction Code Act,” P.L.1975, c.217 (C. 52:27D-119 et seq.) shall be submitted in accordance with and shall be subject to the bidding and other provisions of the “Local Public Contracts Law,” P.L.1971, c.198 (C. 40A:11-1 et seq.). A municipality shall require, as part of the bid specifications, that a private agency participate in whichever electronic system the municipality has elected to utilize. A municipality shall require as part of the bid specifications that a private agency submit a bid or proposal in terms of a percentage of the costs charged by the department when it serves as a local enforcement agency pursuant to section 10 of P.L.1975, c.217 (C. 52:27D-128). A municipality may include in the fee charged by it for work done by private agencies an amount sufficient to cover a proportionate share of administrative costs incurred by the local enforcing agency in connection with inspections performed by private agencies.

L.2005, c.212, s.3; amended 2021, c.70, s.2.