REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR: LITIGATION/DEFENSE COUNSEL SERVICES, WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COUNSEL SERVICES & SPECIAL CONFLICT COUNSEL SERVICES

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is actively soliciting Qualification Statements through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a pool of highly experienced legal professionals to provide Litigation/Defense Counsel Services, Workers' Compensation Counsel Services, and Special Conflict Counsel Services. This comprehensive procurement aims to secure external legal representation for the City, its officers, and employees across a broad spectrum of legal matters. The scope encompasses defense against Tort Claims Act (N.J.S.A. 59:1-1 et seq.), Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) claims (N.J.S.A. 34:19-1 et seq.), Laws Against Discrimination (LAD) claims (N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq.), 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 actions, contract disputes, and challenges to governmental actions. Additionally, specialized representation for workers' compensation lawsuits (N.J.S.A. 34:15-1 et seq.) is required. Special Conflict Counsel services will address situations involving conflicts of interest, non-availability, scheduling conflicts, or when specialized expertise necessitates external engagement, ensuring continuous and effective legal support for the municipality. Prospective contractors must demonstrate robust professional, financial, and administrative capabilities to effectively deliver the outlined services. Key requirements for qualified individuals and firms include possessing all appropriate federal and state licenses, adhering to Affirmative Action (N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq., N.J.A.C. 17:27) and Business Registration of Public Contractors (N.J.S.A. 52:32-44) laws, and providing a Disclosure of Ownership (N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2) statement. Respondents must provide evidence of professional liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per claim and $3,000,000 aggregate per policy period. Demonstrable expertise is crucial, including a proven record of litigation experience in Federal, Superior, Appellate, and Workers' Compensation courts, alongside a history of relevant client engagements, particularly with municipal governments over the past three to five years. Firms must submit resumes of key employees and attorneys assigned to the City, detailing their education, experience, and certifications. Qualification Statements must be submitted by the firm deadline of Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at 11:00 A.M. Submissions, consisting of one original, four copies, and one compact disk (CD), must be either mailed or hand-delivered to the East Orange Office of Procurement, attention Racquel Ferguson, located at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, New Jersey 07018. Facsimile or email transmissions are strictly prohibited and will not be accepted. While no specific bid security or performance bonds are mentioned, a non-refundable fee of $25.00 per RFQ packet is applicable for physical pickups to cover printing and administrative costs. All inquiries and communications regarding this RFQ process must be directed in writing to Racquel C Ferguson, Office of Procurement, who can also be reached at (973) 266-5162.