BOND COUNSEL

The City of East Orange, in Essex County, New Jersey, is soliciting Request for Proposals (RFP) for professional Bond Counsel services. This solicitation, part of a Fair & Open Public Solicitation Process, seeks qualified legal entities with expertise in municipal finance. The scope of work is comprehensive, encompassing legal advice and representation related to the issuance of public debt instruments, including various bond and anticipation notes, as well as general obligation bonds. Key responsibilities for the Bond Counsel include the preparation and review of Bond Ordinances and adoption proceedings, drafting and reviewing public finance resolutions, and handling the issuance of Bond Anticipation, Special Emergency, Tax Anticipation, and General Obligation Bonds. Furthermore, the selected counsel will be responsible for the preparation and/or review of Preliminary Official Statements and Official Statements for the City, along with applications to the Local Finance Board and attendance at relevant meetings, working collaboratively with the City’s Finance and Law Departments to provide essential municipal bond and finance law advice. Prospective professional services entities must demonstrate significant qualifications to be considered for this Bond Counsel role. Mandatory requirements include being an attorney at law licensed in New Jersey and possessing a minimum of five years of extensive experience specifically with New Jersey Municipal Bond and Finance Law. Respondents must also showcase a proven track record of representing New Jersey local government entities in public financing and bond ordinances related to public projects. Submissions must include the firm's legal name and address, years in business, detailed resumes of the individuals proposed as Bond Counsel, and contact information for three current bond counsel clients as references. Additionally, all contractors are required to comply with New Jersey statutes such as N.J.S.A. 10:5-33 et seq. (Affirmative Action), N.J.S.A. 52:32-44 (Business Registration of Public Contractors), and N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2 (Disclosure of Ownership). No mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits are indicated in the solicitation. Proposals for the Bond Counsel services must be meticulously prepared and submitted by the firm deadline of Tuesday, November 27, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. Submissions are to be delivered to the Purchasing Committee in the East Orange City Hall, Council Chamber, located at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. Each proposal must be enclosed in a sealed envelope clearly labeled with the consultant’s name and the title "BOND COUNSEL" on the outside, addressed to the Purchasing Agent. A non-refundable fee of $25.00 is required for RFP packets picked up on-site, payable to the City of East Orange. Required submission documents are extensive, including a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement Form, EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, Business Registration Certificate, Professional Service Entity Information Form, Qualification Affidavit, Submission Form, Acknowledgement of Corrections/Additions/Deletions Form, Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran, Business Entity Disclosure Certification, Statement of Indebtedness, Agreement for Payment of Commodity/Service, Letter of Intent, and Letter of Qualification. Bidders must provide one unbound original, four additional copies, and one compact disc (CD) of their complete submission. For any inquiries, professional services entities should contact Lisa Jackson, Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162. No specific bid security or performance bonds are mentioned as required for this professional services solicitation.