PLANNING BOARD & ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT CONSULTANT

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is soliciting proposals for a Planning Board & Zoning Board of Adjustment Consultant through a competitive contracting process, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1(k) et seq. This comprehensive engagement requires a consultant with extensive experience in municipal planning and in drafting planner’s reports related to development applications. The successful candidate will provide technical assistance in implementing the municipal planning process, prepare professional development materials for both the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment, and conduct thorough reviews of plans submitted for city approval. Key responsibilities include preparing memoranda detailing pending projects and advising on appropriate Board actions, attending all regular and special meetings of both Boards, and participating in conference meetings with municipal boards or private entities. Additionally, the consultant will be tasked with preparing annual board planner’s reports, reviewing all City referrals (including zoning and land use ordinances), evaluating site plan and variance applications, assisting the Land Use Administrator in establishing application procedures, and reviewing Site Plan Advisory Committee minutes. The role also encompasses reviewing draft resolutions for Board hearings concerning site plans, subdivisions, and conditional use or variance approvals, and maintaining mandatory regular office hours every Wednesday from 10 AM to 2 PM at East Orange City Hall for site visits and meetings with Board Chairs or City staff. Prospective contractors must demonstrate substantial expertise and a proven track record in providing similar professional planning services. A current State of New Jersey Professional Planners license and AICP certification are mandatory qualifications. Respondents are required to submit a detailed qualification statement outlining the firm's principal activities, personnel count, and operational location. This statement must also include a list of three clients for whom similar services were rendered, providing specific details such as the government agency, contact person, position, current telephone number, project dates, costs, scope of service, and project status/comments. The proposal must identify key personnel, their credentials, and areas of responsibility, emphasizing special and superior knowledge, prior collaboration, and successful completion of redevelopment projects. Proposers should detail their methodology for project management, including procedures for collecting, storing, analyzing, and presenting information. Sealed RFP responses are due on Friday, November 20, 2020, at 2:00 PM, and must be submitted to the Purchasing Agent at the City Council Chamber, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. Submissions require one (1) original, four (4) copies, and one (1) compact disk (CD) set, with the envelope clearly marked “PLANNING BOARD & ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT CONSULTANT” and the bidder’s name. Detailed RFP documents are available for a non-refundable fee of $25.00 at the Division of Procurement, City Hall, 1st floor, or can be downloaded from www.eastorange-nj.org. Proposals must remain firm for sixty (60) days. Required submission forms include a Proposal Cost/Signature Form, Non-Collusion Affidavit, Stockholder Disclosure, Affirmative Action Statement, and Acknowledgement of Receipt of Addenda, along with a New Jersey Business Registration Certificate. All inquiries regarding this solicitation should be directed to Lisa L. Jackson, Q.P.A., Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162, or via fax at (862) 444-0101.