Hearing Officer Services

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, through its Department of Finance, Division of Procurement, is actively soliciting qualifications for a Hearing Officer to establish a pool of highly skilled, New Jersey-licensed attorneys. This critical Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeks to secure professional services for presiding over internal employee disciplinary hearings and subsequently issuing detailed, written opinions. The comprehensive scope of work requires vendors to demonstrate their experience in presiding over and/or participating in internal employee disciplinary hearings. This initiative reflects the City's commitment to transparent governance and effective internal dispute resolution by ensuring legal expertise is available for internal disciplinary processes. Prospective contractors must be licensed attorneys within the State of New Jersey and possess proven experience relevant to internal employee disciplinary hearings. Mandatory compliance with New Jersey statutes is paramount, including N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27 et seq. concerning Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunities, as well as N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2 for Disclosure of Ownership. Firms are also required to provide a valid N.J. Business Registration Certificate and maintain professional liability insurance with minimum coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in aggregate. Qualification statements should detail firm activities, personnel, relevant client references, and proposed methodologies. Sealed RFQ responses are due by Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at 11:00 A.M., and must be submitted to the Division of Procurement, Municipal Building, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, New Jersey 07018. Each submission must include one original, two copies, and one thumb drive, with the submittal package clearly marked "Hearing Officer." A non-refundable fee of $25.00 applies for RFQ packets picked up on-site. For all inquiries regarding this solicitation, interested parties should direct their questions to Racquel C. Ferguson, Q.P.A., Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162. Proposals must remain firm for sixty (60) days, with an anticipated contract award by December 16, 2024, for a one-year term.