Planning Board & Zoning Board of Adjustment Consultant

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is soliciting proposals through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Planning Board & Zoning Board of Adjustment Consultant Services. The awarded consultant will provide comprehensive technical assistance in municipal planning, including drafting planner's reports for development applications, reviewing submitted plans, and preparing memoranda for pending projects. The scope of work also encompasses attending regular and special meetings of both the Board of Adjustment and the Planning Board, preparing annual board planner's reports, reviewing referrals related to zoning and land use ordinances, and evaluating applications for site plan or variance approval. Additionally, the consultant will assist the Land Use Administrator, review Site Plan Advisory Committee minutes, and perform other directed tasks, including dedicated office hours every Wednesday from 10 am to 2 pm at East Orange City Hall for site visits and meetings with City staff and Board Chairs. Prospective contractors must demonstrate significant experience in municipal planning and drafting planner’s reports, particularly with respect to development applications. Mandatory qualifications include possessing a current New Jersey Professional Planners license and AICP certification. Firms are required to provide a qualification statement detailing principal activities, personnel numbers, and firm location. Furthermore, respondents must submit a list of three clients for whom similar services have been provided, including contact information, dates, costs, scope of service, and project status. Key personnel information, outlining credentials and responsibilities, is also a critical submission component, demonstrating expertise and experience through past contract successes with government agencies. There are no explicit mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits for this solicitation. Sealed RFQ responses are to be submitted by Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 11:00 AM, in the Municipal Council Chamber located at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, New Jersey 07018. Each submission must include one original, four copies, and one electronic/jump drive, with the envelope clearly marked: "PLANNING BOARD & ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT CONSULTANT." Proposals must remain firm for a period of sixty (60) days following the submission date. While a non-refundable $25.00 fee applies for physical RFP packets, proposals can be downloaded free from the City's website. There is no mention of required bid security or performance bonds. For any questions or clarifications, interested parties should contact Racquel C Ferguson, Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162.