Police Practices Defense Counsel Services & Insurance Coverage Defense Counsel Services

The City of East Orange, a municipal corporation in New Jersey, is soliciting Qualification Statements from qualified individuals and firms to provide comprehensive legal services, specifically for Police Practices Defense Counsel Services and Insurance Coverage Defense Counsel Services. The Police Practices Defense Counsel is required to represent City police officers in litigation arising from their employment duties, covering a broad spectrum of legal actions including the Tort Claims Act (N.J.S.A. 59:1-1 et seq.), 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.), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983 actions, and contract or government action challenges. For Insurance Coverage Defense Counsel, the scope encompasses advising the City on insurance contracts, negotiating terms, presenting and negotiating claims, pursuing recoveries through various adversarial proceedings like declaratory judgment actions, mediation, or arbitration, and acting as the City’s legal representative for matters arising from insurance claims. Both roles necessitate a close collaborative relationship with the City's Law Department, involving "as needed" representation across all phases of litigation, from drafting pleadings and motions to participating in depositions, settlement conferences, pre-trial motions, and trials, potentially extending to other specialized legal services. Prospective contractors must demonstrate robust professional, financial, and administrative capabilities to provide the required legal services. Key qualifications include a proven record of litigation experience in Federal, Superior, Appellate, and Workers’ Compensation courts. Firms must comply with various New Jersey statutes, notably N.J.S.A. 10:5-33 et seq. and N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq. (Affirmative Action and Contract Compliance/Equal Employment Opportunities in Public Contracts), N.J.S.A. 52:32-44 (Business Registration of Public Contractors), and N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2 (Disclosure of Ownership). Respondents are required to submit an executive summary, an executed Letter of Qualification, business organization details (including principals and ownership), proof of federal and state licenses, an executed letter of intent, and limits of malpractice insurance coverage, with a specified minimum of $1,000,000 per claim and $2,000,000 in aggregate per policy period. Detailed resumes of key attorneys demonstrating relevant experience, especially with municipal government clients and a narrative statement of understanding of the City's needs, are also mandatory. There are no mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits mentioned for this RFQ. Qualification Statements are due no later than 12:00 P.M. on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Submissions must be delivered either by mail or hand-delivery to the East Orange Office of Procurement, addressed to Racquel Ferguson, East Orange City Hall, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, New Jersey 07018. The City explicitly states that qualification statements sent via facsimile or email will not be accepted. It is crucial for respondents to submit a separate qualification statement for each legal service applied for, and each submission must be contained individually within a sealed envelope. Detailed Request for Qualifications packets are available for download from the City of East Orange’s website (www.eastorange-nj.gov) or can be picked up in person at the Division of Procurement, City Hall, 1st Floor, for a non-refundable fee of $25.00 per packet, payable to the City of East Orange. All official communications regarding this RFQ should be directed in writing to Racquel C Ferguson at the Office of Procurement, who can also be reached by phone at (973) 266-5162. No bid security, such as a bid bond or performance bond, is specified for this solicitation.