Municipal Court Public Defender Professional Legal Services

The City of Bayonne, New Jersey, is soliciting Qualifications and Proposals for Professional Legal Services to serve as Municipal Court Public Defender. The municipality seeks to appoint up to four (4) sole practitioners and/or law firms to provide comprehensive legal representation for indigent defendants in Municipal Court related matters. The scope of work encompasses providing defense in all municipal court proceedings, including hybrid sessions (in-person and virtual), and performing all duties necessary for indigent defense. This includes representing clients against violations of New Jersey Statutes Title 2C and Title 39, Hudson County Administrative Code, and Bayonne's Revised General Ordinances related to zoning, property maintenance, building, and health. Contractors will be responsible for handling all phases of defense, such as discovery, depositions, motions, pretrial and post-trial hearings, trials, and other collateral functions, including expert and lay investigations, as authorized by law or Rule of Court. The total engagement is structured to cover up to four (4) sessions per week, with each session compensated at $400 on a monthly billing schedule, totaling an estimated $83,200 annually for the aggregate services. The contract term for these services is from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024. Responding firms or entities must meet specific qualifications to be considered. A mandatory requirement is licensure to practice law in the State of New Jersey for a minimum of five (5) years preceding the proposed appointment, coupled with eligibility to appear before all municipal, state, and federal courts in New Jersey, as well as New Jersey administrative agencies. Furthermore, applicants must possess at least five (5) years of experience representing defendants in New Jersey municipal courts, maintain a bona fide principal office within the State of New Jersey, and demonstrate sufficient support staff capacity to deliver all required legal services. Contractors must also maintain robust insurance coverage, including Workers' Compensation, General Liability insurance with limits of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, Automotive Liability insurance with similar limits, and Professional Liability insurance with limits of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence. Certificates of insurance naming the City of Bayonne as an additional insured are required. Sealed proposals and responses must be submitted to the City Law Department, located at 630 Avenue C, 1st Floor, Room 15, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002. The firm deadline for submissions is December 10, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. prevailing time. Public opening of all proposals will occur on December 10, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. at the same location. Required submission documents include the Standardized Professional/Consulting/Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service RFQ/RFP SUBMISSION FORMS, specifically the “Proposal, Qualifications and Costs Submission Form,” a signed and notarized “Non-Collusion Affidavit,” a signed Disclosure of Ownership form, a Professional/Consulting/Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service Entity Information Form, a copy of the vendor's current NJ Business Registration Certificate, a Certificate of Good Standing from the NJ Department of the Treasury, and a Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran Form. Additional documents demonstrating qualifications and experience may also be appropriate. For inquiries and to obtain the full solicitation package, prospective bidders can visit the City of Bayonne website or contact the City Law Department during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday). The primary contact for this solicitation is John F. Coffey II, Esq., Law Director.