ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES

The Township of Cranford, New Jersey, is soliciting sealed bids for comprehensive Animal Control Services to be performed over a two-year period, commencing January 1, 2027, and concluding December 31, 2028, with potential for subsequent extensions. The extensive scope of work requires the contractor to maintain a 24/7 phone line, ensuring responses to calls within 30 minutes, 365 days a year. Key responsibilities include responding to, collecting, and impounding stray or at-large dogs and cats; verifying animal licensing and rabies inoculations; and the humane removal of sick, dangerous, diseased, injured, rabid, or deceased animals (including rats and skunks) from public rights-of-way and properties. The selected vendor must also operate an approved animal housing facility, actively enforce all Township animal-related laws and ordinances—including prosecuting violations at no cost to Cranford—and conduct daily patrols of the Township for problem areas. Monthly reports detailing call volumes, impoundment outcomes, dead animal collections, enforcement actions, and bite/quarantine case follow-ups are mandatory for submission to the Health Department. Prospective contractors must demonstrate significant experience, providing a certificate of responsibility along with references for at least three similar municipal projects completed within the past five years. A fundamental requirement is for all personnel to possess New Jersey certification as an Animal Control Officer and a license as a Cruelty to Animals investigator. Furthermore, the contractor must maintain an active contract with an animal shelter that adheres to all State of New Jersey regulations. Bidders are mandated to comply with N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27 regulations, which includes submitting a valid New Jersey Business Registration Certificate with their proposal. While no mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits are specified, bidders are encouraged to thoroughly review all bidding documents and specifications prior to submission. Bid packages became available starting Thursday, July 9th, 2026, from the Township Clerk's Office or via download from the Township’s website, requiring online registration. Sealed bid responses must comprise one original, one hard copy, and one digital copy (USB stick) and be enclosed in an opaque sealed envelope, clearly marked "Animal Control Services" with the bidder's name and address. This primary envelope must then be placed within a larger mailing envelope, properly addressed to Patricia Donahue, Township Clerk, Township of Cranford, Municipal Building, 8 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, New Jersey 07016, with the specific notation "c/o July 30th Bid Opening – Animal Control Services". The definitive deadline for bid submission is Thursday, July 30th, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. No bid security or guarantee is required with the initial proposal. General inquiries may be directed to Lavona Patterson, Township Administrator, at (908) 709-7205, while information on obtaining bid documents can be sought from the Township Clerk's Office at (908) 709-7210 or p-donahue@cranfordnj.org. UNLOCK