Tax Exempt Lease - Purchase Financing

The Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) is soliciting competitive bids for Tax Exempt Lease-Purchase Financing to fund the acquisition of essential capital equipment through a structured five-year financing arrangement. This procurement is conducted under the provisions of the New Jersey Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq.) and N.J.A.C. 5:30-5.1 et seq., which govern lease-purchase agreements for public entities.

The purpose of this solicitation is to secure the most cost-effective financing terms for a project deemed essential to the Authority’s operations in providing responsible, environmentally focused waste management services to Atlantic County. The ACUA seeks a bank-qualified, tax-exempt structure with semiannual interest payments and annual principal repayments, beginning March 1, 2026, and concluding March 1, 2030.

The successful bidder will provide a financing structure compliant with state and federal requirements, including private placement limitations, prepayment options, and escrow funding provisions. All bids will be evaluated based on the lowest overall borrowing cost to the Authority, inclusive of all related fees and expenses.

The Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) owns and operates a Solid Waste complex in Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County, NJ, known as the Howard F. Haneman Environmental Park, and a Wastewater Treatment Facility in Atlantic City, Atlantic County, NJ, known as City Island Treatment Plant.

The Solid Waste facility is home to an active landfill, a recycling center, composting site, and ancillary facilities. Also on site is the ACUA’s primary administration building, constructed in 1992, which features a closed-loop geothermal HVAC system. The site is home to a 5.4 MW landfill methane gas to electricity project which provides 100% of the power needs of the Park. The ACUA’s solid waste complex is located at 6700 Delilah Road, in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. The site consists of approximately 360 acres with approximately 102 acres representing the landfill footprint.

The Wastewater Treatment Facility has been in operation since 1978 and services 14 communities in Atlantic County. It is home to the Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm, a 7.5 MW wind farm that is privately owned and from which the ACUA purchases approximately 12 million kWh per year of electricity. In addition, the facility also houses a 500 kW solar PV system.

The ACUA is responsible to the residents of Atlantic County to be financially prudent and environmentally responsible.