REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS - MUNICIPAL AUDITOR AND/OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR SERVICES

The City of East Orange, located in Essex County, New Jersey, is soliciting Qualification Proposals for Municipal Auditor and/or Financial Advisor Services. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeks firms with expertise in providing comprehensive financial oversight and guidance for the period of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, performing a statutory audit of accounts and records for all funds for the calendar year ending December 31, 2023, conducting tests of internal controls and compliance with statutory requirements, and executing federal and state single audits in accordance with OMB Circular A-133 and NJ OMB Circular 04-04. Additional responsibilities encompass preparing the City’s audited statutory financial statements, reviewing the annual budget, offering accounting and tax guidance as needed, meeting with the Mayor, Administration, and City Council, advising on legislative changes affecting financial records, and providing general financial and budgetary advice and analysis. The contract term for the successful respondent will be for one year. Contractor qualifications for this professional services engagement are rigorous, requiring respondents to demonstrate extensive knowledge of municipal auditing laws and regulations, coupled with experience in advising municipal entities on records compliance issues. Furthermore, firms must exhibit proficiency in supporting municipalities with budget development processes, labor negotiations, and other financially pertinent tasks for a municipality comparable in size to East Orange. Mandatory minimum requirements include possessing a valid Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license and a valid Registered Municipal Accountant (RMA) license, both issued by the appropriate authority of the State of New Jersey. Bidders must also have a minimum of ten (10) years’ experience providing auditing services to New Jersey municipalities and commit to assigning senior staff members with at least ten (10) years of relevant experience. A crucial requirement is maintaining a current principal office within the State of New Jersey. The selected firm will be expected to provide professional liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000.00 per claim and $3,000,000.00 aggregate each policy period upon contract award. Qualification Proposals must be submitted to the Purchasing Agent in the East Orange City Hall, Division of Procurement. The submission deadline is precisely Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. prevailing time, at which point proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud. All proposals must be enclosed in a sealed envelope clearly bearing the consultant’s name and the title “MUNICIPAL AUDITOR AND/OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR SERVICES” on the outside, addressed to the PURCHASING AGENT, City of East Orange, City Hall, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. Firms must provide one (1) unbound original, two (2) additional sets, and one (1) thumb-drive of their sealed submission. Required documents include, but are not limited to, a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Business Registration Certificate, Professional Services Entity Information Form, Qualification Affidavit, Letter of Intent, and Letter of Qualification. For any questions regarding the RFQ, prospective consultants may contact Racquel C. Ferguson, QPA at (973) 266-5162. Proposals received after the stipulated time or in unsealed envelopes will not be considered.