How To Bid     

Step One - View Upcoming Bids: You can view upcoming bids by clicking on any of the upcoming auctions listed on the home page or by clicking on the "Upcoming Auctions" menu item appearing at the top of each page. Clicking on a specific auction will return more detailed information about that auction including; a bid description, auction dates/time, name of the governmental unit soliciting the referenced bid, a copy of the bid specifications, etc.

If you are interested in submitting a bid for a specific auction, then click on the "download specification form" icon on the right side of the bid page. A copy of the bid specs will then be downloaded to your computer where you can save it on your hard drive.

Step Two - Complete and Return Bid Specifications: A paper (hard) copy of the bid specifications must be completed, signed and returned (US Mail or Hand Delivery) to the municipality by the cut-off date and time specified in the bid specs. The bid specifications are very similar to the specifications vendors are required to complete when submitting a 'sealed bid' to a government entity in New Jersey. If you have questions about a bid specification, then please call njlowestbid.com at 201-795-3700.

Step Three - Vendor Qualification: The municipality will review the bid specifications submitted and determine the vendors qualified to bid. Vendors who are qualified to bid will be issued a user name and password by njlowestbid.com. The assigned user name and password will allow you to access the auction page on the njlowestbid.com website and to post bids at the scheduled auction date and time. Please note that the user name and password assigned will only be good for the specified auction.

Step Four - Practice Auction : One or two days before the scheduled auction date njlowestbid.com will conduct a 'practice' auction. Njlowestbid.com will notify all qualified vendors about the 'practice' auction and will be available to answer any questions that you may have about the on-line bidding process. Vendors can use the user name and password assigned by njlowesbid.com for the 'practice' auction.

Step Five - Bidding: On the scheduled auction date enter NJlowestbid.com's home page (http://www.njlowestbid.com/index.cfm) and enter your assigned user name and password.

njlowestbid.com's home page will refresh after you successfully log and the open auctions that you are authorized to bid on will be highlighted. Click on the desired auction to bring up the bid page.

The bid screen provides all relevant auction information. The left side of the bid page contains information such as Auction Status, Opening Bid, Bid Increments, Quantity Requested, Auction Open/Close Times, Time Remaining, Buyer, Time Last Bid Received, etc.

On the top right side of the bid page is where you can submit your bids.

Bidding Procedures

Under the heading 'Bid on the item' will appear the next bid amount. You can accept this price (and be the low bidder) or you can override this price if you want to bid even lower. Below the bid amount is 'Preview Bid' and 'Submit Bid' buttons.

'Preview Bid'

Clicking on the 'Preview Bid' button will return a screen with your bid amount displayed along with a 'Reject Button' and a 'Submit button'. Clicking on the 'Reject Button' will cancel your bid and return you to the bid page. Clicking on the 'Submit Button' will post your bid and you will see a confirmation message. You can return to bid page after your bid is posted. NJlowestbid recommends that you first preview your bid by clicking the 'Preview Bid' button. The bid preview provides a confirmation of what you are going to bid and gives you the opportunity to cancel the bid if you wish.

'Submit Bid'

Clicking on the "Submit Button" will automatically post your bid. You will not have an opportunity to verify what you are bidding.

Note: Remember to first click your refresh/reload button and recheck current low bids prior to submitting your bid! NJlowestbid.com refreshes its bid screens every several seconds, however, hitting your refresh/reload button will update the most recent bids submitted by your competitors. Also, hit your refresh/reload button after submitting a bid.
Continue this process for every bid you submit during an auction. Good Luck!

On the bottom right of the bid page is the 'Current Low Bidder' section. This section show the current low bidder. There is also a jump 'Click here for details' that will return a page with a list of the lowest bid submitted by each seller, ranked from lowest to highest bid.

Please note:to submit a bid the auction must be open. Only when the auction status is 'open' will you be able to submit a bid.