EXPERT GENERAL REAL ESTATE APPRAISER

The City of Bayonne is actively soliciting Qualifications and/or Proposals for an Expert General Real Estate Appraiser to provide professional services, operating under a "fair and open" contracting process as defined by the New Jersey Local Unit Pay to Play Law (N.J.S.A. 19:44-20.4 et seq.). This Request for Qualifications/Proposals (RFQ/RFP) seeks a highly qualified professional to analyze, review, and appraise property values for various municipal purposes, including the crucial evaluation and defense of municipal tax appeals and the prosecution of counterclaims. The resulting contract term for these essential real estate appraisal services is slated to commence on January 1, 2026, and conclude on December 31, 2026, encompassing a full calendar year of critical support to the City's Law Department. Prospective contractors must meet stringent qualification requirements to be considered for this professional services engagement. Applicants are required to be state-licensed general real estate appraisers in New Jersey for a minimum of five (5) years preceding the proposed appointment, with eligibility to appear before all state and federal courts in New Jersey, as well as New Jersey County Tax Boards and administrative agencies. A minimum of five (5) years of experience in advising municipal governments on property value analysis, review, and appraisal within the context of tax appeals and counterclaims is mandatory. Furthermore, candidates must demonstrate at least five (5) years of experience testifying as an expert before both county boards of taxation and the State Tax Court, providing a detailed listing of New Jersey State Tax Court cases from the past year, complete with client contact information. Mandatory insurance coverage includes Worker’s Compensation, General Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate), Automotive Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate), and Professional Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence claim-based), with certificates naming the City as an additional insured. Sealed responses, comprising one (1) original and three (3) copies, must be delivered to the City of Bayonne Law Department, Room 15, located at 630 Avenue C, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002. The absolute deadline for submission is December 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. prevailing time. A public opening of all proposals/responses will take place on the same day, December 9, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. prevailing time, at the Dorothy E. Harrington Municipal Council Chambers, Municipal Building, 630 Avenue C, Bayonne, New Jersey. Required submission documents include the Standardized Professional Service RFQ/RFP SUBMISSION FORMS, a signed and dated Proposal, Qualifications and Costs Submission Form, a signed and notarized Non-Collusion Affidavit, a signed Disclosure of Ownership form, a copy of the vendor's current NJ Business Registration Certificate, and a Certificate of Good Standing from the NJ Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. For inquiries, contact John F. Coffey II, Esq., Law Director, at the specified Law Department address.