Request for Qualifications for Special Labor Counsel Services

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is soliciting Qualification Statements (RFQ) from qualified individuals and firms to provide Special Legal Counsel Services focusing on public sector labor matters. This professional service contract requires legal representation in various capacities, including court appearances, arbitrations, conferences, negotiations, and meetings. The scope extends to drafting and negotiating collective bargaining agreements with diverse bargaining units, interpreting and enforcing existing agreements, and providing representation in employee disciplinary actions or broader employment law issues. These services will be delivered on an "as-needed" basis, operating under the direct supervision and guidance of the City’s Office of Corporation Counsel, ensuring alignment with municipal legal strategies. Prospective contractors must possess demonstrated expertise in public sector labor and employment law, coupled with a proven litigation record in either the Superior Court of New Jersey (including the Appellate Division) or the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Respondents are required to confirm appropriate federal and state licenses necessary for performing these legal activities. Essential submission components include a detailed description of the firm's overall experience, particularly with municipal government clients over the last three years, and resumes of key attorneys who would be assigned to the City. Malpractice insurance coverage limits must also be provided, along with a listing of all similar engagements performed in the past five years. There are no mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits specified for this RFQ process. Qualification Statements must be submitted by the firm's Chief Executive Officer and received no later than 11:00 A.M. on November 17, 2020. Submissions must be individually sealed and either mailed or hand-delivered to the East Orange Office of Procurement, addressed to Lisa L. Jackson, Purchasing Agent, at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, New Jersey 07018. Facsimile or email submissions will not be accepted. Each submission requires one original, four copies, and one compact disk (CD) set of the complete qualification statement. A non-refundable fee of $25.00 is required for physical RFQ packets picked up on-site. The total contract amount is not to exceed $100,000.00, with an hourly rate structure of $125.00 for Partners/Counsel, $95.00 for Associates, and $50.00 for Paralegals.