Municipal Budget Consultant Services for City Administration

The City of East Orange, situated in Essex County, New Jersey, issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Municipal Budget Consultant Services to support its City Administration. This professional services solicitation seeks highly qualified persons and/or firms to provide comprehensive budget consulting for the financial period of January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023. The core project encompasses assisting the City in developing its 2023 budget, creating robust budget models for both 2022 and 2023, and implementing various analytical tools related to the 2022 budget. Key responsibilities include offering strategic support and expert guidance to the City’s budget team, including the City Administrator, Chief Financial Officer (Finance Director), and Budget Director, to ensure seamless coordination among departmental directors and external advisors regarding the 2022 and 2023 fiscal plans. The consultant will also be directed by the Administration to engage with local and state officials, and potentially stakeholders such as organized labor, business groups, and various City, County, and State agencies, serving as an informational resource for advancing new revenue streams and broader budget restructuring initiatives. Furthermore, the scope extends to collaborating with diverse City departments to develop "dashboard" analytical tools and providing management guidance to optimize their utility. Deliverables involve a thorough review and modification of the 2022 East Orange budget, the formulation of new revenue strategies for the 2023 budget, and the preparation of an in-depth analysis of both the 2022 and 2023 budgets, culminating in actionable recommendations for the 2023 fiscal year. Prospective professional services entities must demonstrate significant qualifications and experience to be considered for this crucial role. Candidates are required to possess extensive knowledge of modern government budgeting problems, concepts, practices, and methodologies, particularly their application to specific municipal financial situations. A strong understanding of statistical and research theory, practices, and procedures is also mandatory. Firms or individuals must provide evidence of a minimum of five (5) years of direct experience in the development, evaluation, analysis, and revision of budgetary control systems, as well as in budget preparation and presentation. Specialized experience of at least five (5) years with the New Jersey Calendar Year Municipal Budget is essential, along with a deep familiarity with New Jersey Budget Laws and Regulations. Furthermore, the successful respondent must either be 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 (5) years of experience in their respective capacities. Required submission components include the legal name and address of the firm, years in business, resumes of assigned personnel, and contact information for three current municipal budget clients. No mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits were indicated in the provided documentation. Qualification Proposals must be submitted to the Purchasing Agent at the City of East Orange City Hall, Division of Procurement, located at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. Submissions can be delivered in person to the First Floor of City Hall or mailed, ensuring receipt prior to the specified deadline. Each proposal must be enclosed in a sealed envelope clearly bearing the name of the consultant and the title "MUNICIPAL BUDGET CONSULTING SERVICES FOR CITY ADMINISTRATION." To facilitate review, respondents are mandated to provide one (1) original unbound submission, four (4) hard copies, and one (1) electronic copy on a jump drive. The definitive submission deadline for all Qualification Proposals is Thursday, November 10, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. (noon) prevailing time. Required documentation includes a Business Entity Disclosure Certification, Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement Form, EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, Mandatory Equal Employment Opportunity Notice Acknowledgement, Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 form, Certificate of Employee Information Report, Business Registration Certificate (NJ), Professional Service Entity Information Form, Qualification Affidavit, Submission Form, Acknowledgement of Corrections, Additions or Deletions Form, Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran, Statement of Indebtedness, Agreement for Payment of Commodity/Service, Letter of Intent, and Letter of Qualification. No bid security or performance bonds were explicitly requested within this Request for Qualifications. For any submission-related inquiries, Racquel C. Ferguson, QPA, Purchasing Agent, can be reached at (973) 266-5162.