The Department of Juvenile Justice has asked the Board of Public Works to postpone voting on a contract today under which some offenders would be transported to Pennsylvania, Secretary Bishop L. Robinson announced yesterday.

The announcement came on the same day that The Sun reported details of the contract and opposition to it from children's welfare advocates.

The three-year contract would have been worth up to $11.7 million to the Devereux Foundation of Devon, Pa., if it had been approved by the board.

The department sought to move some of its most troubled juveniles to the Pennsylvania facility for treatment, but advocates said it would have hurt efforts to keep youths closer to home.

Robinson said the department had not anticipated the objections to the contract.