SPECIAL REDEVELOPMENT LAND USE COUNSEL (Land Use, Redevelopment & Real Estate Matters)

The City of Bayonne, New Jersey, is soliciting qualifications and proposals for a Special Redevelopment Land Use Counsel to provide professional legal services in land use, redevelopment, and real estate matters. This vital role involves representing the City across all aspects of redevelopment and municipal land use law, encompassing areas such as the Fair Housing Act, COAH, affordable housing issues, eminent domain, and adherence to NJDEP legislation and regulations. The selected firm will also need extensive familiarity with Titles 40 & 40A of the New Jersey Statutes, ensuring comprehensive legal support for the City's complex land development projects. The contract term for these essential services is anticipated to not exceed one year from the date of award, focusing on providing continuous expert legal guidance for current and future municipal initiatives. Prospective contractors must meet stringent qualification criteria, including maintaining a bona fide office within the State of New Jersey and holding a valid license to practice law in New Jersey, with at least three years of active membership in the N.J. bar. Critical experience requirements include demonstrated familiarity with all facets of redevelopment, municipal land use law, and real estate law, specifically including expertise in Fair Housing Act, COAH, affordable housing issues, and eminent domain. Successful respondents will also be required to provide comprehensive insurance coverage, including 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), and Professional Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence, claims-based). The selected counsel will be compensated at a rate of $225.00 per hour for services attributable to the City of Bayonne and $375.00 per hour for services attributable to developers, payable from established escrow accounts. 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 precisely January 16, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. prevailing time. Required submission documents include the Standardized Professional/Consulting/Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service RFQ/RFP Submission Forms, 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 copy of the vendor's current NJ Business Registration Certificate, a State of NJ Certificate of Good Standing, and a Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran Form. Additional documents demonstrating qualifications and experience are also encouraged. The Law Department will conduct a public reading of all proposals at their Conference Room, Room 15, on January 16, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. prevailing time. For inquiries or to obtain solicitation packages, contact John F. Coffey II, Esq., Law Director, at the specified Law Department address during regular business hours.