Hi,
Is this a state-owned project in NJ? If so, you submit to NJDCA (NJ Department of Consumer Affairs) with the ePlans web portal which requires the Design Professional to send a hardcopy letter bearing their signature & seal, attesting that the electronic documents (PDFs) were prepared under their supervision. This letter is also scanned and uploaded to the ePlans submission portal. No hardcopy permit sets are sent to NJDCA - the files on the ePlans portal are sufficient.
If this is not a state-owned building/facility in NJ refer to NJAC 13:40-8.1 which explains the requirements regarding the Signing and Sealing of documents.
PLEASE NOTE:
An ELECTRONIC Signature is defined as a facsimile (e.g.. scanned image) of an autograph (and the engineer's seal), either on an electronic document (CAD or a PDF) and has no encryption technology with it or any device to ensure its authenticity.
A DIGITAL Signature (or Digital ID or Digital Certificate) may include an accompanying image of the engineer's signature and seal but the critical idea is that a Digital Signature is actually an encrypted private-public digital key pair which can be validated by a trusted, 3rd party Certifying Authority (e.g. DocuSign, GlobalSign, etc.) which issues the certificate (for a fee) and can verify its legitimacy when the recipient of the Digitally Signed document requests to Verify or Validate that Digital Signature (or Digital ID).
NJ is quite explicit in allowing encrypted technology Digital Signatures OR hardcopy wet signature w/ embossed professional's seal on submitted reports, plans, design sepcifications, etc. - and NJAC 13:40-8.1A describes this and makes them legal through the entire State. Facsimiles of the rubber-stamp seal are not permitted as of June 2018.