Request for Qualifications: Hearing Officer

The City of East Orange, through its Department of Finance, Division of Procurement, is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to establish a pool of highly skilled and licensed attorneys to serve as Hearing Officers. This critical procurement initiative seeks to secure professional legal services for presiding over internal employee disciplinary hearings within the municipality. The comprehensive scope of work for the selected Hearing Officers includes conducting fair and impartial hearings, meticulously reviewing evidence, and subsequently issuing detailed, written opinions that thoroughly explain their decisions. This engagement is vital for maintaining administrative integrity and ensuring due process in internal employment matters for the City of East Orange, New Jersey. The RFQ aims to identify and pre-qualify multiple individuals or entities capable of providing these specialized legal services on an as-needed basis. Prospective contractors must be licensed attorneys in good standing within the State of New Jersey and demonstrate substantial experience in presiding over or actively participating in internal employee disciplinary hearings. In addition to legal licensure, respondents are required to comply with various New Jersey statutes, including 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, and N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2 for Disclosure of Ownership. Other mandatory submissions include a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Stockholder Disclosure, a valid N.J. Business Registration Certificate, and compliance with "Pay to Play" reporting requirements (P.L. 2005, Chapter 271, Section 3 Reporting). Furthermore, selected vendors must maintain Professional Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 aggregate, ensuring continuous coverage throughout the contract term. No mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits are indicated for this RFQ. Sealed RFQ responses must be submitted to the Purchasing Agent at the Division of Procurement, Municipal Building, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. The strict submission deadline is Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at 11:00 A.M., at which time proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud. Each submission must include one original, four copies, and one electronic copy (CD or thumb drive), with the package clearly marked "Hearing Officer." Required forms, such as the Proposal Cost/Signature Form, Affirmative Action Statement, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement, Political Contributions Disclosure, and a detailed Qualification Statement outlining experience and proposed fee structure, must be completed and included. A non-refundable fee of $25.00 applies for RFQ packets picked up on-site. All inquiries regarding the solicitation should be directed to Racquel C. Ferguson, Q.P.A., Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162.