Planning Board & Zoning Board of Adjustment Consultant

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is actively soliciting proposals through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a highly experienced Planning Board & Zoning Board of Adjustment Consultant. This professional service aims to provide comprehensive municipal planning expertise, assist the Planning Director in developing professional materials for both boards, and prepare planner’s reports for development applications. The selected consultant will be responsible for reviewing submitted plans, drafting memoranda on pending projects, advising on proper actions, and attending regular and special meetings of the Board of Adjustment and Planning Board. Additional responsibilities include preparing an annual planner’s report, reviewing all referrals from the City (including zoning and land use ordinances), evaluating site plan and variance applications, assisting the Land Use Administrator with application processing procedures, and reviewing Site Plan Advisory Committee meeting minutes. The scope also mandates serving regular office hours (Wednesday, 10 am to 2 pm) at East Orange City Hall for site visits and meetings with Board Chairs and City staff. This competitive contracting process adheres to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1(k), et seq. Prospective consultants must demonstrate significant experience in municipal planning and the drafting of planner’s reports related to development applications. Key personnel qualifications, including a current N.J. Professional Planners license and AICP certification, are mandatory. Firms must provide a qualification statement detailing principal activities, personnel numbers, firm location, and a list of three clients for whom similar services have been provided, including contact information, dates, costs, scope, and project status. All Professional Service Contractors must comply with New Jersey statutory requirements, including N.J.S.A. 10:5-33 et seq. (Affirmative Action), N.J.S.A. 52:32-44 (Business Registration of Public Contractors), and N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2 (Disclosure of Ownership). No mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits are explicitly stated, but the successful consultant must commit to regular office hours in City Hall. Sealed RFQ responses are due by Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. Submissions require one original, two copies, and one thumb drive, clearly marked for the "PLANNING BOARD & ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT CONSULTANT," and addressed to the Purchasing Agent. Proposals can be mailed or delivered to the Division of Procurement, First Floor, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. A non-refundable fee of $25.00 for the RFP packet applies if picked up on-site, payable to the City of East Orange. Required forms include the Proposal Cost/Signature Form, Non-Collusion Affidavit, Stockholder Disclosure, Affirmative Action Statement, and Acknowledgement of Receipt of Addenda. Proposals must remain firm for sixty (60) days. For questions, contact Racquel C Ferguson, Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162.