REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR IN-REM TAX FORECLOSURE SPECIAL LEGAL COUNSEL SERVICES

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is soliciting Qualification Statements from experienced individuals and firms to provide In-Rem Tax Foreclosure Special Legal Counsel Services. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeks to secure legal expertise for representing the City in all tax foreclosure-related matters, encompassing both the prosecution and defense of cases before the Superior Court of New Jersey and the United States Bankruptcy Court. Services will be engaged on an "as needed" basis and will be closely coordinated with and supervised by the City’s Office of Corporation Counsel, potentially requiring attendance at meetings and the provision of other specialized legal assistance. The primary objective is to retain competent and qualified attorneys or law firms to ensure effective legal representation for the municipality, with the possibility of selecting multiple entities for these critical services. Prospective contractors must demonstrate a strong professional background and continuing capability to perform the required legal services. Key qualifications include a proven record of litigation experience across Federal, Superior, Appellate, and Workers’ Compensation courts. Respondents are required to detail their business organization, including ownership structure (specifically any stockholders holding 10% or more), and history of management. Furthermore, submissions must confirm appropriate federal and state licenses necessary for performing legal activities. Firms must also disclose any judgments for professional malpractice within the last three years and any involvement in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings over the past ten years. Essential professional information includes resumes of key employees and the specific attorneys proposed to provide services, a narrative outlining the respondent's understanding of the City's needs, and a list of similar engagements with municipal or government clients over the last five years, complete with contact references. A minimum malpractice insurance coverage of $1,000,000 per claim and $1,000,000 aggregate per policy period is also mandatory. To be considered, Qualification Statements must be submitted as one original, four copies, and one compact disk (CD), all enclosed in a sealed envelope. Submissions must be hand-delivered or mailed to the East Orange Office of Procurement, Attention Lisa L. Jackson, at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, New Jersey 07018. Electronic submissions, including facsimile or email, will not be accepted. The definitive deadline for receipt of all Qualification Statements is December 11, 2019, at 2:00 P.M. The City explicitly states it is not responsible for the loss, non-delivery, or physical condition of statements sent via mail or courier. Required forms accompanying the submission include a Business Entity Disclosure Certification, Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement, EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, and a valid New Jersey Business Registration Certificate. Specific bid security or performance bonds are not indicated as required for submission. For further information or to obtain copies of the RFQ, Lisa L. Jackson, Purchasing Agent, can be reached at (973) 266-5162 or via fax at (862) 444-0101.