Subcontractor’s bids, when coupled with its backlog of uncompleted contracts, must not cause subcontractor to exceed aggregate rating limit in public school projects. If so, contractor’s bid will be rejected due to subcontractor exceeding its aggregate rating limit.

On June 20, 2011, the Appellate Division decided Brockwell & Carrington Contractors, Inc. v. Kearny Board of Education, Hall Construction, Inc. and Dobco, Inc., Docket No. A-1806-10T4, (“Brockwell”), which may have a significant impact on bidding on public school contracts. Brockwell involved a bid for a public school contract in which the contractor’s bid, which included a subcontractor’s bid, was rejected because the subcontractor’s bid exceeded the aggregate rating for the subcontractor for public school projects. As a result, the contract was awarded to the next lowest bidder.