Municipal Budget Consultant Services for City Administration (2nd Request)

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is soliciting qualification proposals for Municipal Budget Consultant Services for its City Administration. This is the second request for these critical professional services, aimed at securing expert support for financial management. The chosen consultant will be responsible for a comprehensive range of tasks, including the development of the 2026 budget, creation of robust budget models for both 2024 and 2025, and the design of various analytical tools pertinent to the 2025 fiscal year. The extensive scope of work further encompasses providing strategic support and guidance to the City’s budget team, which includes the City Administrator, Chief Financial Officer (Finance Director), and Budget Director, to ensure cohesive coordination among departmental directors and external advisors. Furthermore, the consultant will be directed to engage with local and state officials, as well as key stakeholders such as organized labor and business groups, serving as an informational resource for advancing new revenue sources and broader budget restructuring initiatives. Additional responsibilities involve collaborating with City departments to develop "dashboard" analytical tools and offering management guidance in support of these tools. Key deliverables include reviewing and modifying the 2025 City of East Orange budget, developing new revenue strategies for 2025, and preparing an in-depth analysis of the 2024 and 2025 budgets with actionable recommendations for the 2025 fiscal period. The contract term is explicitly set for one year, commencing January 1, 2025, and concluding December 31, 2025. Prospective Municipal Budget Consultants must demonstrate profound knowledge of modern government budgeting problems, concepts, practices, and methods, alongside their practical application to specific municipal financial scenarios. A mandatory minimum of five (5) years of experience is required in the development, evaluation, analysis, and revision of budgetary control systems, as well as in budget preparation and presentation within a governmental context. Crucially, applicants must possess five years of hands-on experience with the New Jersey Calendar Year Municipal Budget system and exhibit comprehensive knowledge of New Jersey Budget Laws and Regulations. Furthermore, successful respondents must be either a Registered Municipal Accountant (RMA) or a Certified Municipal Financial Officer (CMFO) in the State of New Jersey, each with at least five years of experience in their respective capacities. Qualification proposals must include the firm's legal name and address, detailed history of years in business, specific experience in New Jersey calendar year municipal budgets, comprehensive resumes of all personnel proposed for assignment as the City Administration Budget Consultant, and the names and contact information for three (3) current calendar year municipal budget clients. Professional Liability Insurance is a non-negotiable requirement, mandating minimum limits of $1,000,000.00 for each claim and an aggregate of $3,000,000.00 per policy period. There are no mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits specified for this solicitation. Qualification Proposals for the Municipal Budget Consultant Services are scheduled for submission on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 11:00 AM prevailing time. All submitted proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud by the Purchasing Agent at the East Orange City Hall, Division of Procurement. To ensure proper processing, proposals must be enclosed within a sealed envelope, clearly bearing the consultant's name and the specific title "MUNICIPAL BUDGET CONSULTING SERVICES FOR CITY ADMINISTRATION" on the exterior. The sealed submission should be addressed to the Purchasing Agent, City of East Orange, City Hall, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. Respondents are strictly required to submit one (1) unbound original, two (2) copies, and one (1) electronic copy on a thumb drive of their complete submission package. A comprehensive checklist of mandatory submission documents includes a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement Form, EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, Business Registration Certificate, Professional Services Entity Information Form, Qualification Affidavit, Submission Form, Acknowledgement of Corrections, Additions or Deletions Form, Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran, Certification of Non-Involvement in Prohibited Activities in Russia or Belarus, Statement of Indebtedness, Agreement for Payment of Commodity/Service, Letter of Intent, and Letter of Qualification. Proposals cannot be modified, withdrawn, or canceled for sixty (60) days after the submission opening. For any questions regarding this Request for Qualifications, interested parties should contact Racquel C. Ferguson, QPA, Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162. No bid security or performance bonds are explicitly required for this RFQ.