Municipal Budget Consultant (for City Council)

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, through its Division of Procurement, is soliciting qualification proposals (RFQ) for Municipal Budget Consultant Services for its City Council. This second request seeks a qualified firm or individual to provide comprehensive budget guidance for the Calendar Year 2025 Municipal Budget, covering the period from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. The scope of work includes reviewing, analyzing, and providing guidance on the municipal budget, meeting with City Council members and Administration as necessary, attending all City Council budget hearing meetings, and providing relevant reports as requested by a majority of the City Council. The successful consultant will play a critical role in supporting the City Council's financial oversight functions. Prospective contractors must demonstrate extensive qualifications, including knowledge of modern government budgeting problems, concepts, practices, and methods, as well as statistical and research theory. Mandatory requirements specify a minimum of five (5) years of experience in the development, evaluation, analysis, and revision of budgetary control systems, along with budget preparation and presentation. Additionally, candidates must possess five years of experience with the New Jersey Calendar Year Municipal Budget, a thorough understanding of New Jersey Budget Laws and Regulations, and be a Registered Municipal Accountant in the State of New Jersey and/or a Certified Municipal Financial Officer in the State of New Jersey with at least five years of experience. Required submissions include the legal name and address of the firm/individual, years in business relevant to NJ municipal budgets, resumes of assigned personnel, and contact information for three current municipal budget clients. Professional Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per claim and $3,000,000 aggregate per policy period is also a mandatory requirement. Qualification Proposals must be submitted to the Purchasing Agent in the East Orange City Hall, Division of Procurement, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. The sealed envelope must be clearly marked "MUNICIPAL BUDGET CONSULTANT (for City Council)" and bear the consultant's name. The submission deadline is Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 11:00 AM prevailing time, at which point proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud. Submissions can be mailed or hand-delivered but must be received prior to the deadline. Required submission documents include a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement Form, EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notices, Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 form, Certificate of Employee Information Report, Business Registration Certificate, Professional Service Entity Information Form, Qualification Affidavit, Submission Form, Acknowledgement of Corrections/Additions/Deletions, Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran, Business Entity Disclosure Certification, Statement of Indebtedness, Agreement for Payment of Commodity/Service, Letter of Intent, Letter of Qualification, and Certification of Non-Involvement in Prohibited Activities in Russia or Belarus. One unbound original, two copies, and one electronic/thumb drive of the sealed submission are required. For questions, contact Racquel C. Ferguson, QPA, at (973) 266-5162.