ACCOUNTANT AND FINANCIAL CONSULTING SERVICES

The City of East Orange is soliciting proposals for Accountant and Financial Consulting Services to manage and advise on its financial records, including those of the East Orange Water Commission, for the period of January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019. This Request for Proposal (RFP) seeks qualified firms to provide a comprehensive suite of services encompassing accounting, budgetary, financial, and tax guidance. The scope of work involves inspecting financial transactions, ensuring compliance with regulations and accounting procedures, advising on legislative changes impacting records, and providing part-time staff support to both the City's Finance Division (three times per week) and the Police Department (two times per week) for account reconciliations and statement preparation. Further responsibilities include reviewing and recording expense invoices, preparing various financial reports, maintaining the General Ledger, compiling financial statements, ensuring adherence to grant funding and state recordkeeping requirements, assisting with the Annual Budget, supporting the City's retained auditor, and utilizing the City's existing electronic and manual information systems. Specialized tasks also include property-by-property analysis of PILOT agreements, reviewing and processing reports related to tax-abated/exempt projects, overseeing their fiscal administration—including tax calculations, invoice review, financial analysis, and dispute resolution—and maintaining an ongoing revenue reporting system for these properties. Prospective contractors must demonstrate substantial qualifications and experience in municipal finance. Key requirements include a valid Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license and a valid Registered Municipal Accountant (RMA) license, both issued by the appropriate authority in the State of New Jersey. Firms are mandated to have a minimum of ten (10) years of experience providing auditing services to municipalities within the State of New Jersey. The RFP specifies that senior staff members assigned to the City must also possess at least ten (10) years of experience in audit services and other specialized services requested. Furthermore, the successful firm must maintain a current principal office within the State of New Jersey. Respondents should exhibit comprehensive knowledge of municipal auditing laws and regulations, proven experience in advising municipal entities on records compliance, and a strong background in supporting municipalities through budget development, labor negotiations, and other financially pertinent tasks for a city comparable in size to East Orange. Compliance with various New Jersey statutes, including those related to Affirmative Action (N.J.S.A. 10:5-33 et seq., N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq., N.J.A.C. 17:27 et seq.), Business Registration (N.J.S.A. 52:32-44), and Disclosure of Ownership (N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2), is strictly required. No mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits are indicated. Proposals must be meticulously prepared and submitted in accordance with the outlined procedures. Each submission requires one unbound original, four additional hard copies, and one compact disc (CD) set. The sealed envelope containing the proposal must clearly bear the consultant’s name and the title "ACCOUNTANT AND FINANCIAL CONSULTING SERVICES" on the outside, and be addressed to the Purchasing Agent. The firm must also include a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement Form (with Professional Liability Insurance minimums of $1,000,000.00 per claim and aggregate), EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, Americans With Disabilities Act compliance, a copy of their Certificate of Employee Information Report, Business Registration Certificate, a Professional Services 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. The firm submission deadline is Tuesday, November 27, 2018, at 12:00 p.m. prevailing time. Proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud at the East Orange City Hall, Council Chamber. For any questions, contact Lisa L. Jackson, Q.P.A., Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162.