PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES PANEL COUNSEL FOR GENERAL MATTERS AND LITIGATION

The City of Bayonne's Law Department is actively seeking Qualifications and Proposals from Professional/Consulting/Extraordinary Unspecifiable Services Providers to establish a Panel Counsel for General Matters and Litigation. This comprehensive Request for Qualifications/Proposals (RFQ/RFP) aims to secure legal representation for the City of Bayonne and its employees in a wide array of legal scenarios. The scope of work includes handling litigation in State Superior, Municipal, Administrative Law, Worker’s Compensation, and Federal Courts for matters not covered or denied by the New Jersey Intergovernmental Insurance Fund (NJIIF), encompassing tort, contract, civil rights actions, declaratory judgment matters, and bankruptcy. Additionally, the appointed Panel Counsel will provide advice and representation on general municipal issues, such as employment disputes, real property disputes, rights of way, infrastructure, federal and state energy/communications, intellectual property matters, class action litigation, utility-related matters, and administrative proceedings, requiring comprehensive legal counsel, research, report writing, negotiations, and defense. Prospective contractors must meet stringent qualifications, including maintaining a bona fide office within the State of New Jersey and holding an active license to practice law 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. Bidders must possess familiarity with New Jersey and federal law pertaining to criminal defense, tort (including personal injury), contract, workers' compensation, administrative law, labor and employment law, administrative disciplinary matters, bankruptcy, civil rights litigation, and general municipal law. Essential insurance requirements include Workers' Compensation Insurance, General Liability Insurance with limits of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, Automotive Liability Insurance (if applicable) with similar limits, and Professional Liability Insurance of not less than $2,000,000 per occurrence (claims-based). All required insurance policies must name the City of Bayonne as an additional insured. Submissions for this solicitation must include one (1) original and three (3) copies of sealed responses, delivered to the City Law Department, Room 15, 630 Avenue C, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002. The firm submission deadline is November 6, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. prevailing time. Required documentation includes the Standardized Professional/Consulting/Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service RFQ/RFP SUBMISSION FORMS (encompassing the Proposal, Qualifications and Costs Submission Form, a signed Non-Collusion Affidavit, and a Disclosure of Ownership form), a Professional/Consulting/Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service Entity Information Form, a current NJ Business Registration Certificate, a NJ Certificate of Good Standing, and a Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran Form. While no bid security or bonds are explicitly requested, all proposals will be publicly opened on November 6, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. prevailing time in the Dorothy E. Harrington Municipal Council Chambers. For further information or to obtain solicitation packages, interested parties may contact the City Law Department, led by John F. Coffey II Esq., Law Director.