Professional Services - Planning Board Attorney and/or Zoning Board of Adjustment Attorney

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is actively seeking Request for Qualifications (RFQ) from highly skilled and experienced attorneys to provide comprehensive professional services for its Planning Board and/or Zoning Board of Adjustment. The awarded counsel will be responsible for delivering critical legal support, expert advice, and robust representation vital for the efficient and lawful operation of these municipal land use entities. Key responsibilities include meticulous preparation for and attendance at all regular and special board meetings (approximately 12 regularly scheduled meetings per year), engaging in conferences with the City Administrator and land development review staff, and drafting essential legal documents such as resolutions, reports, legislation, deeds, covenants, and easements. Furthermore, the scope encompasses responding to routine staff inquiries and representing the boards in litigation stemming from their decisions or official duties as mandated by the Municipal Land Use Law and Local Redevelopment Housing Law, requiring specialized legal research and the preparation of extraordinary legal memoranda. Prospective professional service contractors must be attorneys licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey. Essential qualifications include a demonstrated depth of experience in municipal land use law, with a core competency and practical experience with both the Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL) and the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law. Candidates will be evaluated on their proven litigation experience, a successful track record in similar projects, and their ability to accurately interpret complex regulations and ordinances. While no mandatory pre-bid meetings are scheduled, a public opening of proposals will occur. Respondents are expected to possess familiarity with the geographical area of East Orange, maintaining an office within reasonable accessibility, and ensuring it is adequately staffed to provide responsive services. Strict adherence to various New Jersey statutes is mandatory, including N.J.S.A. 10:5-33 et seq. (Affirmative Action), N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27 et seq. (Equal Employment Opportunities), N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2 (Disclosure of Ownership), and N.J.S.A. 52:32-44 (Business Registration). Submissions for this Request for Qualifications are due on Friday, December 13, 2019, at 11:00 AM. Proposals must be physically delivered to the Municipal Council Chamber, located at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. Each submission requires one (1) unbound original, four (4) bound copies, and one (1) electronic copy. The submission envelope must be clearly marked with “PLANNING BOARD ATTORNEY AND/OR ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT ATTORNEY” and the bidder's firm name. A non-refundable fee of $25.00 is required for physical RFP packets, payable to the City of East Orange. Successful proposers must provide Professional Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000.00 per claim and aggregate, alongside Workers Compensation, General Liability, and Automobile insurance. All submitted proposals must remain firm for a period of sixty (60) days. The estimated contract value for combined services will not exceed $30,000.00, billed at an hourly rate of $125.00, for a one-year contract term. For further inquiries, contact Lisa L. Jackson, Q.P.A., Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162 or via email at lisa.jackson@eastorange-nj.gov. UNLOCK