TRENTON, NJ — The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has dismissed a protest over a $1.73 billion contract for E-ZPass services, clearing the way for TransCore, a U.S.-based company owned by Singapore Technologies Engineering, to take over the state’s tolling system — a move that ends a 22-year partnership with longtime provider Conduent.
Thomas Holl, the Authority’s director of law and hearing officer for the dispute, issued a detailed 107-page ruling stating that Conduent’s objections lacked substance. “Conduent’s challenges to the contract award are without merit,” Holl wrote, rejecting claims that the bidding process had been mishandled.
Conduent argued that its proposal was $250 million less than TransCore’s and accused the Turnpike Authority of reducing TransCore’s price after final bids had been submitted. Holl found no wrongdoing, saying all actions taken by the Authority were appropriate and did not violate procurement rules…