The Ocean County Board of Commissioners has approved more than $5.2 million in new and extended contracts covering a wide range of services — from behavioral health programs and law enforcement technology to environmental engineering and infrastructure projects — in a move officials say will sustain essential county operations and modernization efforts well into 2026.
The contracts, approved during the commissioners’ most recent public meeting, include continued funding for mental health and substance abuse treatment, upgrades to the county’s payroll and financial management systems, new security technology for law enforcement, and project oversight for major roadway and bridge construction.
County officials described the funding as a balance between maintaining critical services and investing in modernization at a time when local governments are under increasing pressure to manage rising costs and aging infrastructure. Several of the agreements are contingent upon the adoption of the county’s upcoming budget.
A substantial portion of the funding package is directed toward public health and human services. Bright Harbor Healthcare received multiple contract extensions totaling more than $548,000 to continue its family crisis intervention, outpatient and inpatient substance abuse programs, in-home counseling, and juvenile electronic monitoring services. Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. secured $219,000 in renewals for youth diversion and mentoring services, while Preferred Behavioral Health of New Jersey will continue providing employee assistance programs for county workers.
Officials said the extensions ensure that vital social service programs will remain uninterrupted as demand for mental health and addiction treatment continues to rise across the region.
Technology and security upgrades account for some of the most expensive items in the package. The commissioners authorized a $1.39 million extension with CGI Technologies & Solutions, Inc. to migrate the county’s CGI Advantage financial management software to a new cloud-based platform, part of a broader effort to improve system efficiency and data security.
Additional technology purchases include $262,464 for Primepoint HR and payroll systems, $197,122 for AXON body-worn cameras for the Department of Corrections, and $100,000 for drone detection systems for the Sheriff’s Office. The county also approved smaller upgrades for network and CCTV systems at the Chestnut Street Complex and other facilities.
Engineering and infrastructure projects continue to be a focal point of the commissioners’ agenda. T&M Associates, DuBois & Associates, and Mott MacDonald received funding for environmental studies and project management services related to ongoing public works projects.
The board approved $660,327 for project management and inspection of the Long Beach Boulevard reconstruction in Beach Haven, along with $75,000 for continued bridge design work in Lakewood.
County officials said the work is part of a long-term effort to improve transportation infrastructure along critical corridors and to address environmental impacts linked to coastal development.
Public safety and election systems also featured prominently in the approvals. Election Systems & Software, LLC was awarded a $995,000 contract extension for maintenance and licensing of county voting machines through 2026, ensuring reliability ahead of the next election cycle.
In addition to new body cameras and drone detection systems, the county will invest in updated network and security infrastructure for multiple departments through contracts with CDW Government and ePlus Technology.
Several professional service and consulting contracts rounded out the approvals, including $119,000 for Medicaid program consulting with Myers and Stauffer LC, $95,000 for materials testing at the Ocean County Justice Complex Annex, and $45,000 for additional architectural and design work at the county’s court facilities.
Environmental and engineering firms such as Colliers Engineering & Design, French & Parrello Associates, and Van Cleef Associates received smaller contracts for specialized surveying, environmental assessment, and construction testing services.
Officials said the combined approvals are designed to ensure continuity of operations across departments while allowing the county to keep pace with technological, environmental, and demographic changes. Many of the projects are scheduled to begin next year and will extend through the end of the decade.
County leaders said they expect public updates as the contracts move into the design and implementation stages in 2026.