Professional Legal Services: Panel Counsel for General Matters and Litigation

The City of Bayonne, New Jersey, located at 630 Avenue C, Rm. 15, is soliciting Request for Qualifications/Proposals (RFQ/RFP) from Professional/Consulting/Extraordinary Unspecifiable Services Providers to serve as Panel Counsel for General Matters and Litigation. This professional legal services engagement entails representing the City of Bayonne and/or its employees in a broad spectrum of legal issues. The scope of work includes litigation arising from State Superior, Municipal, Administrative Law, Worker’s Compensation, and Federal Courts, particularly for matters not covered by the New Jersey Intergovernmental Insurance Fund (NJIIF). Specific areas include defense of the Bayonne Police Department and individual officers in civil rights actions, representation in declaratory judgment and coverage disputes, advice and representation in bankruptcy matters, and counsel on general municipal issues such as employment, real property disputes, rights of way, infrastructure, federal and state energy/communications, intellectual property, class action litigation, and utility-related matters. The engagement involves providing advice, written opinions, research, report writing, negotiations, and defense in litigation, with the term of appointment not exceeding one year from the date of appointment. Prospective contractors must meet stringent qualifications, including maintaining a bona fide office in the State of New Jersey and holding a license to practice law for at least three years. Eligibility to appear before all state and federal courts in New Jersey, as well as New Jersey administrative agencies and the Office of Administrative Law, is mandatory. Familiarity with New Jersey and federal law in criminal defense, tort, contract, workers' compensation, administrative law, labor and employment law, administrative disciplinary matters, bankruptcy, civil rights litigation, and general municipal law is essential. Comprehensive insurance coverage is required, encompassing 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, if applicable), and Professional Liability ($2,000,000 per occurrence, claims-based). Certificates of these required policies must be issued by a company authorized in New Jersey and name the City of Bayonne as an additional insured. Contractors are also required to indemnify and defend the City against all losses and claims. 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 submission deadline is firm: January 17, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. prevailing time. Required submission documents include the Standardized Professional/Consulting/Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service RFQ/RFP SUBMISSION FORMS, which comprise the signed Proposal, Qualifications and Costs Submission Form, a signed and notarized Non-Collusion Affidavit, and a signed Disclosure of Ownership form. Additionally, a Professional/Consulting/Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service Entity Information Form, a copy of the vendor's current NJ Business Registration Certificate, a NJ Certificate of Good Standing, and a Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran Form are mandatory. No specific bid security or bonds are mentioned. All proposals will be publicly opened on January 17, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. prevailing time at the Law Department Conference Room, Room 15. The designated contact for this RFP is John F. Coffey II, Esq., Law Director.