Planning Board & Zoning Board of Adjustment Consultant Services

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, Department of Business Administration, Division of Procurement, is actively soliciting proposals through a competitive contracting process for a highly qualified Planning Board & Zoning Board of Adjustment Consultant. This critical role involves providing comprehensive professional services to assist in municipal planning and land use development. Key responsibilities include offering technical assistance for implementing the municipal planning process, supporting the Planning Director in preparing professional development materials for both the Board of Adjustment and the Planning Board, and meticulously reviewing plans submitted for city approval. The consultant will also be tasked with drafting memoranda to describe pending projects and advising on appropriate actions for the Boards, attending all regular and special meetings of both Boards, and participating in conference meetings with municipal entities, private firms, and developers. Further duties encompass generating an annual board planner’s report, reviewing all City referrals, including zoning and land use ordinances, scrutinizing site plan and variance applications, and assisting the Land Use Administrator with application processing and procedure establishment. This also includes reviewing Site Plan Advisory Committee minutes and performing other authorized tasks, requiring regular office hours at East Orange City Hall every Wednesday from 10 am to 2 pm for site visits and meetings. Prospective contractors must demonstrate significant, verifiable experience in municipal planning and a proven capability in drafting detailed planner’s reports specifically for development applications. A mandatory qualification for key personnel within the bidding firm is possession of a current New Jersey Professional Planners license and AICP certification, underscoring the necessity for specialized expertise. Respondents are required to furnish a comprehensive qualification statement detailing the firm's principal activities, personnel numbers, and office location. Crucially, three client references for similar services must be provided, including the government agency name, a contact person with their position and current telephone number, along with the dates, cost, scope of service, and project status/comments. The evaluation process will heavily weigh the respondent's expertise and past experience, particularly concerning prior collaboration and successful completion of redevelopment projects akin to those outlined in this Request for Proposal. All professional service contractors are also mandated to comply with relevant New Jersey statutes, including Affirmative Action, Business Registration, and Disclosure of Ownership requirements. Sealed RFP responses must be delivered to the Purchasing Agent by Tuesday, December 17, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. The submission location is the City Council Chamber, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, New Jersey 07018, where responses will be publicly opened and read aloud. Proposals must be securely enclosed in a sealed envelope, clearly labeled with "PLANNING BOARD & ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT CONSULTANT," and must distinctly display the bidder’s name. Each submission package requires one (1) original, four (4) copies, and one (1) compact disk (CD) set, with the original proposal explicitly marked. Detailed Request For Proposals documents are available for download from the City of East Orange’s website (www.eastorange-nj.org) or can be picked up on-site for a non-refundable fee of $25.00, payable to the City of East Orange. All proposals must remain firm for a period of sixty (60) days following the submission deadline. For any inquiries regarding this solicitation, interested parties should contact Lisa L. Jackson, Q.P.A., Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162. Required submission forms include a Proposal Cost/Signature Form, Non-Collusion Affidavit, Stockholder Disclosure, Affirmative Action Statement, and an Acknowledgement of Receipt of Addenda.