Municipal Budget Consultant for City Council

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, through its Office of the City Administrator, Division of Procurement, is seeking proposals from qualified firms or individuals to serve as a Municipal Budget Consultant for the City Council. This professional service encompasses reviewing, analyzing, and providing expert guidance on the Calendar Year 2020 Municipal Budget. The comprehensive scope of work includes meeting directly with City Council members, attending all City Council budget hearing meetings, engaging with City Administration as necessary, attending all City Council meetings where formal action on the budget is scheduled, and preparing and submitting relevant financial reports as requested by a majority of the City Council. The resulting contract will have a term of one year, specifically from January 2020 through December 2020. Prospective contractors must demonstrate substantial qualifications and experience to be considered for this critical role. Mandatory requirements include a minimum of five years of experience in the development, evaluation, analysis, and revision of governmental budgetary control systems, as well as extensive experience in budget preparation and presentation. Furthermore, candidates must possess at least five years of experience specifically with the New Jersey Calendar Year Municipal Budget and a thorough knowledge of New Jersey Budget Laws and Regulations. Successful respondents are required to be either a Registered Municipal Accountant in the State of New Jersey and/or a Certified Municipal Financial Officer in the State of New Jersey, each with a minimum of five years of experience in their respective capacities. Proposals must detail the legal name and address of the firm or individual, years of relevant business experience, a resume of the person(s) assigned to the role, and contact information for three current calendar year municipal budget clients. All proposals must be submitted to the Purchasing Committee in the East Orange City Hall, Council Chamber, located at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018, by Tuesday, December 17, 2019, at 1:00 PM prevailing time, at which point they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bidders must enclose their proposals in a sealed envelope, clearly marked "MUNICIPAL BUDGET CONSULTANT (for City Council)" and indicating the bidder's name. A non-refundable fee of $25.00 is required for RFP packets picked up on site. Bidders are required to comply with various New Jersey statutes, including those related to Affirmative Action (N.J.S.A. 10:5-33 et seq., N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq., N.J.A.C. 17:27 et seq.), Business Registration (N.J.S.A. 52:32-44), and Disclosure of Ownership (N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2). Proposals must remain firm for sixty (60) days after the submission deadline. For any questions, prospective proposers should contact Lisa L. Jackson, Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162. A complete submission requires one unbound original, four additional copies, and one compact disc (CD) set of the sealed submission, along with various mandatory forms.