Police Practices Defense Counsel Services & Insurance Coverage Defense Counsel Services

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is actively soliciting Qualification Statements (RFQs) from highly experienced and qualified legal professionals or firms to provide specialized Police Practices Defense Counsel Services and Insurance Coverage Defense Counsel Services. This critical municipal procurement aims to establish a robust pool of attorneys capable of representing the City and its police officers in complex litigation. The Police Practices scope encompasses defense and representation against claims arising from employment-related duties, including, but not limited to, the New Jersey Tort Claims Act (N.J.S.A. 59:1-1 et seq.), the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA, N.J.S.A. 34:19-1 et seq.), Laws Against Discrimination (LAD, N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq.), and 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983 actions. Furthermore, the Insurance Coverage Defense Counsel services involve expert advisement on the City's insurance contracts, negotiation of terms and recoveries, presentation of claims, and aggressive pursuit of claims through various adversarial proceedings such as declaratory judgment actions, mediation, arbitration, or other litigation. Both service categories require a close collaborative relationship with the City’s Law Department, handling all facets of litigation on an "as needed" basis. Prospective contractors must possess demonstrated professional, financial, and administrative capabilities suitable for delivering high-quality legal services to the City of East Orange. Essential qualifications include a proven track record of significant litigation experience across Federal courts, Superior courts, Appellate courts, and Workers’ Compensation forums. Respondents are mandated to submit comprehensive professional information, detailing their overall experience with similar services, listing relevant municipal government clients from the past three years, and providing detailed resumes of key employees and the specific attorneys proposed for assignment. Disclosure of malpractice insurance coverage limits is also a critical requirement. Adherence to various New Jersey state regulations is mandatory, including Affirmative Action (N.J.S.A. 10:5-33 et seq., N.J.A.C. 17:27 et seq.), Business Registration for Public Contractors (N.J.S.A. 52:32-44), and Disclosure of Ownership (N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2). There are no mandatory pre-submission meetings or site visits specified in this Request for Qualifications. Qualification Statements for these vital legal services must be precisely prepared and submitted to the City of East Orange’s Office of Procurement by the strict deadline of 11:00 A.M. on Friday, November 30, 2018. Submissions must be either hand-delivered or mailed to Lisa Jackson, Office of Procurement, East Orange City Hall, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, New Jersey 07018; electronic (facsimile or email) submissions will not be accepted. Applicants must provide one unbound original, four hard copies, and one compact disk (CD) set for each legal service applied for, with each submission individually sealed. Comprehensive RFQ packets are available for download from the official City of East Orange website (www.eastorange-nj.gov) or can be obtained in person from City Hall for a non-refundable printing and administrative fee of $25.00, payable to the City. The submission checklist mandates numerous forms, including non-collusion affidavits, ownership disclosures, insurance acknowledgements, EEO/Affirmative Action compliance, business registration certificates, and specific letters of intent and qualification. All communications and inquiries regarding this RFQ should be directed in writing to Lisa L. Jackson, Qualified Purchasing Agent, at the provided contact details.