Cost Estimating Services for HUD CDBG Homeowner Rehabilitation Grant Assistance Program

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is soliciting proposals for comprehensive Cost Estimating Services to support its vital HUD CDBG Homeowner Rehabilitation Grant Assistance Program. This crucial initiative aims to rehabilitate distressed residential dwellings, addressing basic housing maintenance, health and safety concerns, and enhancing neighborhood beautification standards for East Orange residents. The successful firm will provide technical consulting, encompassing surveying assigned properties, scheduling necessary work, identifying lead hazards, assessing building structural failures, ensuring shell protection from moisture and adverse temperatures, and facilitating exterior improvements. A key component involves the production of detailed Work Write-Up documents using industry-standard cost estimating software such as Housing Developer Pro, which the City will supply along with associated hardware. The scope also extends to coordinating homeowner/contractor kick-off meetings, monitoring construction progress for quality and safety, and managing change orders and payment requisitions throughout the project lifecycle. Prospective contractors must demonstrate extensive, well-documented experience and specialized knowledge of local City of East Orange construction codes, contemporary construction practices, materials, labor costs, and various associated construction expenses. Mandatory compliance includes New Jersey Business Registration Certificate, 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. for Contract Compliance and Equal Employment Opportunities in Public Contracts, and N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2 for Disclosure of Ownership. Respondents are required to submit a comprehensive qualification statement detailing the firm's principal activities, personnel count, office location, and a list of at least three clients for whom similar services were provided, specifying project name, client, location, category (new/renovation), type, size, construction value, and the exact cost estimating services delivered. Firms with prior experience in HUD CDBG or comparable grant programs must supply three professional references, including agency, contact details, service dates, cost, scope, and project status. Key personnel information, including credentials and areas of responsibility, is also a critical submission element. There are no mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits specified for this RFP. Sealed Request for Proposal responses must be received by the Purchasing Agent no later than Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 11:00 AM. Submissions are to be hand-delivered or mailed to the Municipal Council Chamber, Municipal Building, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, New Jersey 07018. Bidders must ensure the outer envelope is clearly marked: "COST ESTIMATING SERVICES (HUD CDBG HOMEOWNER REHABILITATION GRANT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM)" and includes the bidder's name. Each submission package must comprise one (1) original, one (1) paper copy, and an additional digital copy on a USB drive. Proposal forms supplied by the City are mandatory for all submissions; use of alternative forms may lead to rejection. A non-refundable fee of $25.00 applies for RFP packets picked up on-site, payable to the City of East Orange. All proposals must remain firm for a period of sixty (60) calendar days after the submission deadline. For inquiries or clarification regarding this solicitation, interested parties should directly contact Racquel C. Ferguson, Q.P.A., Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162 or via fax at (862) 444-0101. No bid security or performance bonds are explicitly requested in the provided document.