Ocean County commissioners greenlit contracts for two local vendors to handle meal deliveries. Driftwood Deli & Sub Shop LLC and Legacy Hospitality & Entertainment Group LLC secured the deal as the lowest qualified bidders on contract B2026-10.

Officials plan to rebid several items. Bid items 25 through 56 drew unresponsive offers, so the county will rebid those along with items 1 through 24. The move aims to broaden the pool of vendors for countywide meal services.

The board extended plumbing coverage too. Timothy Peters Plumbing & Heating Co. Inc. will provide services through March 2027 under a one-year contract renewal.

Grocery bids fell short. Commissioners rejected all submissions for miscellaneous groceries, frozen foods and kitchen supplies. State purchasing rules prompted the decision. County staff will overhaul specifications before putting the contracts out for bids again to match current needs.

Construction projects saw financial tweaks. The board signed off on change orders for five capital works, netting increases and cuts across the county.

Ernest Bock & Sons, Inc. gained $85,328.63 on the Justice Complex Annex project in Toms River via Change Order No. 13. That boost covers ongoing expansions at the facility.

P & A Construction, Inc. picked up $24,403.87 for Cross Street reconstruction in Lakewood under Change Order No. 7. Earle Asphalt Company added $16,757.97 to its County Road Resurfacing Contract 2021D with Change Order No. 2.

Not every adjustment raised costs. Vulcan Construction Group, Inc. faced a $27,810.38 reduction on the Manahawkin Lake Dam rehabilitation in Stafford Township through Change Order No. 1. Arawak Paving Company, Inc. saw its Dock Road reconstruction contract in Eagleswood drop by $14 on Change Order No. 2.

County officials described the changes as routine. They stem from project modifications and cost reconciliations as crews advance work on roads, dams and public buildings. The total value of these approvals topped $100,000, reflecting steady progress on infrastructure priorities.

The public meeting unfolded in Toms River, county seat for the Jersey Shore region. Commissioners handle such bids and extensions regularly to keep services running smoothly amid rising demands.