Professional Legal Services - Labor Attorney

The City of Bayonne, New Jersey, is actively soliciting proposals for Professional Legal Services to secure a highly qualified Labor Attorney. This Request for Qualifications/Proposals (RFQ/RFP) aims to appoint legal counsel proficient in representing the City across a broad spectrum of labor and employment matters. The comprehensive scope of work includes expert representation in labor and employment negotiations and litigation, handling intricate disciplinary matters and related appeals involving City employees, appearing before administrative boards and courts, conducting arbitration hearings, participating in union negotiations, and engaging in PERC hearings. Additionally, the selected professional will be responsible for acting as hearing officers for internal disciplinary matters and providing essential legal advice and opinions to support the City's operational and human resources functions. The contract is designated for a term commencing January 1, 2025, and concluding on December 31, 2025, ensuring continuous legal support for this critical area. Prospective contractors are mandated to maintain a bona fide office within the State of New Jersey and must possess an active license to practice law in New Jersey for a minimum of three years, demonstrating 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. Essential qualifications include extensive familiarity with New Jersey and, where applicable, federal law pertaining to criminal defense, tort, contract, workers’ compensation, administrative law, labor and employment law, administrative disciplinary matters, civil rights litigation, and general municipal law. Bidders must also provide comprehensive insurance coverage, including Worker’s Compensation, General Liability with limits of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, Automotive Liability at $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and claims-based Professional Liability with minimum limits of $2,000,000 per occurrence. Certificates of all required insurance policies must name the City of Bayonne as an additional insured. All sealed proposals for these professional legal services must include a detailed cost proposal outlining the firm’s fee structure and anticipated reimbursable expenses. Required submission documents comprise the "Standardized Professional/Consulting/Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service RFQ/RFP SUBMISSION FORMS," a signed and notarized Non-Collusion Affidavit, a Disclosure of Ownership form, a Professional/Consulting/Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service Entity Information Form, a current New Jersey Business Registration Certificate, a New Jersey Certificate of Good Standing, and a Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran Form. Proposals must be physically received by the City Law Department, located at 630 Avenue C, 1st Floor, Room 15, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002, no later than November 7, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. prevailing time. A public reading of all submitted proposals will take place at the Law Department Conference Room, Room 15, on the same date, November 7, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. The City reserves the right to extend the submission deadline, reject any or all submissions, or waive non-mandatory items. Additional information and solicitation packages are available from the City Law Department during regular business hours.