Construction Research

Dear Mr. Smith:
Thank you for submitting your request for government records of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Your request has been received and is being processed in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA), NJSA 47:1 et seq. Your request was received through the online, public portal Rutgers University Open Public Records Center of this office on 3/21/2024 and (https://u8387795.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.PYICgxP3kfgZjR-2B4e9nPlOQ-2Bei55-2BIGqwpXIOk6BH6dm2kHnPUEryqozXjw8DgvJhxVWMC9P43dkYwAVtzvcDOpqMoBI010Qaa6tMv3ejC0-3DXQEk_UYR9e6RvixmT4FUC3RTiBu3E0XlzZt6BounloqMU0LXeD6vwo03Q5mlL8xcRQvVt0b9pwNaWigwNR-2BKjrnozOEd46KS7oj-2FCh-2BC2atip-2F1sgmCdshK6wVZcaKyznOkm6dAllLBNXQGovpsYRAdYCrZlqVkkParbGMV4nIb550OmUdGBFODoh2716qFSH3Kc1JGoXsPQGWMjXFSEljVDuXYhe4PbeXWuMCdS58gJk6hrLmpzmNbcl-2FPHtDY7dlPIXFkiy7G1BEfadqzdjo-2BTU-2BPyaMv2mVESp8mc78yXbBQQBIlOShHfptdTMnsr7mfF5ZIFmY-2B2wkB-2FCr2bdZ-2F-2Fco9vP2JR2G0lZvlITob1mnwdfulOw-2BqcQvD0vTx86JErb) given the reference number R008778-032124.

Your request will be forwarded to the Office of the Custodian of Records for review and processing, including determining the volume of responsive documents and any potential costs associated with satisfying your request. Please note, the N.J. Open Public Records Act does not require the University to create new documents, to conduct research, or to answer questions for information.

Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

For the following construction projects, please provide the records listed below.

Projects:
Rutgers Nursing and Science Building
Student Services One-Stop and Commuter Center
Health and Life Science Exchange (HELIX)
Earth and Planetary Science Lab Renovations
Brandt Behavioral Health Treatment Center and Residence
Medical Science Building

Records requested for each project:
All RFQ responses received for the design contract
All RFQ responses received for the construction contract
All RFQ responses received for the owner's representative contract (if any)
Executed design contract with architect of record including attachments/exhibits/amendments to date
Executed construction contract with contractor including attachments/exhibits/amendments to date
Executed contract with owner's representative (if any) including attachments/exhibits/amendments to date
Most recent pay application/invoice from architect of record
Most recent pay application/invoice from contractor
Most recent pay application/invoice from owner's representative (if any)

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 7 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Bob Smith

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
The Office of the Custodian of Records uses the Rutgers University Open Public Records Center to communicate with you, respond to and track all open public records requests.  If you have submitted your request electronically through Rutgers Open Public Records Center portal, you have already been required to create an account.

Notice to First Time Portal Users:
If you are a first time user and did not submit your request through the public portal, you are receiving this request because the Rutgers Office of the Custodian has created an account for you at the Rutgers University Open Public Records Center .
To access your account and view your request:

1.Go to: 2. Select/open  "My Records Center" Rutgers University Open Public Records Center.
3. Enter your email and password as provided in your previously received Welcome Letter.

You can monitor your request through the Rutgers University Open Public Records Center at "My Request Center."
Thank you and if you have questions, you  may contact the OPRA Administrator at (973) 972-1981.

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
University Custodian of Records
Office of Enterprise Risk Management, Ethics and Compliance
65 Bergen Street, Ste. 1346
Newark, New Jersey 07101-1709
Phone: (973) 972-1981
Fax: (973) 972-2396

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Reference: Rutgers Open Public Records Request # R008778-032124

Dear Mr. Smith,
Please accept this letter as the University Custodian of Records response to your request for records pursuant to the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”). On March 21, 2024, this office received your request for the following:
“To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

For the following construction projects, please provide the records listed below.

Projects:
Rutgers Nursing and Science Building
Student Services One-Stop and Commuter Center
Health and Life Science Exchange (HELIX)
Earth and Planetary Science Lab Renovations
Brandt Behavioral Health Treatment Center and Residence
Medical Science Building

Records requested for each project:
All RFQ responses received for the design contract
All RFQ responses received for the construction contract
All RFQ responses received for the owner's representative contract (if any)
Executed design contract with architect of record including attachments/exhibits/amendments to date
Executed construction contract with contractor including attachments/exhibits/amendments to date
Executed contract with owner's representative (if any) including attachments/exhibits/amendments to date
Most recent pay application/invoice from architect of record
Most recent pay application/invoice from contractor
Most recent pay application/invoice from owner's representative (if any)

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 7 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Bob Smith

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
The University has reviewed your request and requires an extension until April 16, 2024.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at my office at 973.972.1981.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Keys
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

--- Please respond above this line ---

Reference: Rutgers Open Public Records Request # R008778-032124

Dear Mr. Mr. Bob Smith,
Please accept this letter as the University Custodian of Records response to your request for records pursuant to the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”). On March 21, 2024, this office received your request for the following:
“To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

For the following construction projects, please provide the records listed below.

Projects:
Rutgers Nursing and Science Building
Student Services One-Stop and Commuter Center
Health and Life Science Exchange (HELIX)
Earth and Planetary Science Lab Renovations
Brandt Behavioral Health Treatment Center and Residence
Medical Science Building

Records requested for each project:
All RFQ responses received for the design contract
All RFQ responses received for the construction contract
All RFQ responses received for the owner's representative contract (if any)
Executed design contract with architect of record including attachments/exhibits/amendments to date
Executed construction contract with contractor including attachments/exhibits/amendments to date
Executed contract with owner's representative (if any) including attachments/exhibits/amendments to date
Most recent pay application/invoice from architect of record
Most recent pay application/invoice from contractor
Most recent pay application/invoice from owner's representative (if any)

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 7 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Bob Smith

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Apologies for the delay, we have been experiencing a staffing vacancy.
Please note, the HELIX project is not a Rutgers University project, therefore we do not have any responsive records related to construction.
The remainder of this request would require a significant effort to produce.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(c), an agency is authorized to impose a special service charge where the agency must make an extraordinary expenditure of time and effort to accommodate a request to inspect government records.
We estimate that the request will require approximately 15 hours. As the University does not charge for the first two hours of production, the special services fee shall be $780 based on 13 hours at $60.00 dollars per hour, as summarized below:
Total time for review/redaction/production: 15 hours
Actual cost ($60.00/hour x 15 hours): $900.00
Total waived ($60.00 x first 2 hours): $120.00
Total charged: $780.00
If you choose to request the records, you must pay the special service charge prior to the work commencing. If you wish to avoid paying a special service charge, you may narrow your request or submit a new request at any time. Please note, the Custodian of Records will not narrow the request on your behalf, however you may submit more specific search terms, time frames, or other parameters.
You may send a check in the amount of $780.00 payable to “Rutgers University” to the following address:
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Custodian of Records
University Ethics and Compliance
335 George Street, Suite 2100
New Brunswick, NJ 08901.
If we do not hear from you within ten (10) business days we will consider the request withdrawn. Once we receive payment we will send an estimated time frame for completion of our review and potential redactions.
If you have any questions, please contact my office at 848.239.0042. Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Casey Woods
University Ethics & Compliance
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

--- Please respond above this line ---

Reference: Rutgers Open Public Records Request # R008778-032124
Dear Mr. Smith,
Please accept this letter as the University Custodian of Records response to your request for records pursuant to the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”). On March 21, 2024, this office received your request for the following:
“To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

For the following construction projects, please provide the records listed below.

Projects:
Rutgers Nursing and Science Building
Student Services One-Stop and Commuter Center
Health and Life Science Exchange (HELIX)
Earth and Planetary Science Lab Renovations
Brandt Behavioral Health Treatment Center and Residence
Medical Science Building

Records requested for each project:
All RFQ responses received for the design contract
All RFQ responses received for the construction contract
All RFQ responses received for the owner's representative contract (if any)
Executed design contract with architect of record including attachments/exhibits/amendments to date
Executed construction contract with contractor including attachments/exhibits/amendments to date
Executed contract with owner's representative (if any) including attachments/exhibits/amendments to date
Most recent pay application/invoice from architect of record
Most recent pay application/invoice from contractor
Most recent pay application/invoice from owner's representative (if any)

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 7 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Bob Smith

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Upon receiving your request, the undersigned sent you an email explaining the cost to produce the records or otherwise inviting you to narrow your request to avoid paying a fee.
As of this writing, you have failed to respond. Therefore, at this time we are withdrawing your request and considering it closed. Should you wish to resubmit your revised request please do so by contacting the Office of the Custodian of Records through the Rutgers Open Public Records Center website, or via the regular mail to: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, University Custodian of Records, University Ethics and Compliance, 335 George Street, Suite 2100, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.
If you have any questions, please contact my office at 973.972.1981.
Sincerely,
Casey Woods
Director of Ethics and Public Records
University Ethics and Compliance
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
848.239.0042