Professional Legal Services - Planning Board Attorney

The City of Bayonne, New Jersey, is soliciting qualifications and proposals from professional legal services providers for the appointment of a Planning Board Attorney. This critical role involves representing the City in all planning-related matters, including conducting hearings before the Planning Board, advising on land use, and ensuring compliance with municipal regulations. The successful contractor will be responsible for demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of general New Jersey planning and development law, with particular attention to issues directly impacting the City of Bayonne. This procurement is being conducted under a "fair and open" contracting process, adhering to the New Jersey Local Unit Pay to Play Law (N.J.S.A. 19:44-20.4 et seq.), to ensure transparency and equal opportunity. Prospective contractors must meet stringent qualification requirements, including licensure to practice law in the State of New Jersey for a continuous period of at least ten (10) years preceding the proposed appointment, and eligibility to appear before all state and federal courts, as well as New Jersey administrative agencies. A minimum of ten (10) years of direct experience representing municipal governments in planning issues is mandatory. Applicants are required to list past and present municipal or government authorities they have represented. Furthermore, the firm must maintain a bona fide principal office in New Jersey and possess sufficient support staff to competently provide all necessary legal services, encompassing tracking, researching, litigation, document preparation, and effective communication with City personnel. Required insurance coverages include Worker’s Compensation, General Liability (minimum $1,000,000 per occurrence, $2,000,000 aggregate), Automotive Liability (minimum $1,000,000 per occurrence, $2,000,000 aggregate), and Professional Liability (minimum $1,000,000 per occurrence, claims-based), with the City named as an additional insured. Sealed responses to this Request for Qualifications/Proposals (RFQ/RFP) must be submitted using the City's standardized forms, available on the City of Bayonne website or at the City Law Department. The submission package must include a signed 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 current NJ Business Registration Certificate, an NJ Certificate of Good Standing, and a Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran Form. All sealed proposals must be delivered to the City Law Department, located at 630 Avenue C, 1st Floor, Room 15, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002, no later than December 11, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. prevailing time. A public opening of all proposals will take place at the City Council Chambers on December 11, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. prevailing time. The primary contact for inquiries regarding this solicitation is John F. Coffey II, Esq., Law Director.