Municipal Budget Consultant for City Administration

The City of East Orange, located in Essex County, New Jersey, is actively soliciting proposals from highly qualified firms to serve as a Municipal Budget Consultant for City Administration. This critical professional services engagement encompasses a comprehensive scope of work, including assisting the City in developing its 2021 budget, creating robust budget models for both 2020 and 2021, and providing various analytical tools to support fiscal planning. Key responsibilities further include offering strategic support and guidance to the City's core budget team, comprising the City Administrator, Chief Financial Officer (Finance Director), and Budget Director. The consultant will also facilitate coordination among department directors and external advisors, and, as directed, engage with local and state officials, organized labor, business groups, and other agencies to explore and advance new revenue sources and broader budget restructuring initiatives. Additional tasks involve developing departmental "dashboard" analytical tools, providing management guidance for these tools, reviewing the 2020 budget for modifications, and preparing an in-depth analysis of both the 2020 and 2021 budgets with actionable recommendations. The awarded contract will be for a one-year term, effective from January 2021 through December 2021. Prospective contractors must demonstrate extensive qualifications, including a minimum of five (5) years of specialized experience in government budgeting problems, concepts, practices, and methods, specifically encompassing the development, evaluation, analysis, and revision of budgetary control systems, as well as budget preparation and presentation. Mandatory minimum requirements stipulate that respondents must possess five years of experience with the New Jersey Calendar Year Municipal Budget, maintain thorough knowledge of New Jersey Budget Laws and Regulations, and be either a Registered Municipal Accountant in the State of New Jersey or a Certified Municipal Financial Officer in the State of New Jersey, or both, each with at least five years of relevant experience. Proposals must include the firm’s legal name and address, years in business, and detailed resumes of the individuals proposed to serve as the City Administration Budget Consultant. Additionally, applicants are required to provide the names and contact information for three current calendar year municipal budget clients as references to validate their past performance and expertise. There is no mention of a mandatory pre-bid meeting or site visit requirement for this solicitation. Detailed submission instructions require sealed proposals to be delivered to the Purchasing Committee in the East Orange City Hall, Council Chambers, by the firm deadline of Friday, November 20, 2020, at 12:00 p.m. prevailing time, at which point proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud. Interested firms can obtain the complete Request for Proposal documents from the Division of Procurement, City Hall, 1st floor, between 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or download them from www.eastorange-nj.gov. A non-refundable fee of $25.00 per RFP packet is charged for physical copies, payable to the City of East Orange. Each submission must be clearly marked "MUNICIPAL BUDGET CONSULTANT (for City Administration)" on the sealed envelope and include the bidder's name. Firms are mandated to submit one (1) unbound original, four (4) additional copies, and one (1) compact disc (CD) containing their complete submission. Required forms include, but are not limited to, Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement Form, EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, Business Registration Certificate, Professional Service Entity Information Form, Qualification Affidavit, and a Submission Form detailing cost specifics and individual hourly rates. For any questions regarding the RFP, firms should contact Lisa L. Jackson, Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162.