Professional Services Solicitation: Municipal Budget Consultant (for City Council)

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is actively soliciting qualification proposals for a Municipal Budget Consultant to serve its City Council. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeks highly experienced firms or individuals to provide comprehensive financial advisory and analytical services specifically for the Calendar Year 2024 Municipal Budget. The selected consultant will be tasked with reviewing and analyzing the proposed budget, offering expert guidance to City Council members, attending crucial City Council budget hearing meetings, engaging with the City Administration as necessary, and participating in all City Council meetings where formal budget actions are scheduled. Furthermore, the role encompasses the provision of relevant financial reports as mandated by a majority of the City Council. This critical one-year contract, commencing January 1, 2024, and concluding December 31, 2024, aims to enhance the City Council's oversight and understanding of East Orange's financial records and budgetary processes. Prospective Municipal Budget Consultants must demonstrate profound knowledge of modern government budgeting problems, concepts, practices, and methodologies, alongside robust statistical and research theory applications. A minimum of five (5) years of direct, verifiable experience in the development, evaluation, analysis, and revision of budgetary control systems, as well as budget preparation and presentation, is strictly required. Essential qualifications include extensive experience with the New Jersey Calendar Year Municipal Budget framework and a thorough understanding of New Jersey Budget Laws and Regulations. Additionally, applicants must be a Registered Municipal Accountant (RMA) in the State of New Jersey and/or a Certified Municipal Financial Officer (CMFO) in New Jersey, each with a minimum of five (5) years of experience in their respective capacities. Proposals must explicitly include the legal name and address of the firm or individual, years in business, a detailed resume of personnel designated as the City Council Budget Consultant, and contact information for three (3) current municipal budget clients. No mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits are indicated for this solicitation. All qualification proposals must be delivered to the Purchasing Agent in the City of East Orange City Hall, Division of Procurement, by the firm deadline of Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 12:00 PM prevailing time. Submissions must be securely sealed in an envelope, clearly marked with the consultant's name and "MUNICIPAL BUDGET CONSULTING SERVICES FOR CITY COUNCIL" on the exterior, and addressed to the Purchasing Agent at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. Required submission components include one (1) unbound original, four (4) physical copies, and one (1) electronic copy (jump drive). Proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud at the City Council Chambers. Mandatory supporting documentation spans a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement, various EEO/Affirmative Action compliance notices, Business Registration Certificate, Qualification Affidavit, and Letters of Intent and Qualification. For any inquiries regarding the submission requirements or content, interested parties should contact Racquel C. Ferguson, QPA, at (973) 266-5162.