Municipal Budget Consultant Services for City Council

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, through its Division of Procurement, is soliciting qualification proposals from interested persons and/or firms to provide Municipal Budget Consultant Services for its City Council. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeks a highly knowledgeable and experienced professional or firm to review, analyze, and offer guidance on the Calendar Year 2024 Municipal Budget. The comprehensive scope of work includes meeting with City Council members, attending all City Council budget hearing meetings and formal action meetings related to the budget, conducting necessary meetings with City Administration, and preparing and submitting relevant reports as directed by a majority of the City Council. The successful consultant will be contracted for a one-year term, covering the period from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, ensuring continuous expert support for the municipal budget process in East Orange. Prospective contractors must demonstrate a profound understanding of modern government budgeting problems, concepts, practices, and methods, as well as their practical application, along with expertise in statistical and research theory. A minimum of five (5) years of direct experience in the development, evaluation, analysis, and revision of budgetary control systems, coupled with budget preparation and presentation experience, is mandatory. Additionally, respondents must possess at least five (5) years of experience with the New Jersey Calendar Year Municipal Budget and a thorough knowledge of New Jersey Budget Laws and Regulations. Crucially, the individual(s) to be assigned must be either a Registered Municipal Accountant in the State of New Jersey or a Certified Municipal Financial Officer (CMFO) in the State of New Jersey, each with a minimum of five years' experience. Mandatory submission requirements include the legal name and address of the firm, years in business, a detailed resume of assigned personnel, and contact information for three current calendar year municipal budget clients. Qualification Proposals must be sealed and clearly marked "MUNICIPAL BUDGET CONSULTANT (for City Council)" on the outside, addressed to the Purchasing Agent. Submissions are due on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at 11:00 AM prevailing time, at which point they will be publicly opened and read aloud in the City Council Chambers, located at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. Proposals may be delivered by mail or in person to the Division of Procurement, First Floor, City Hall. Required documentation includes, but is not limited to, a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement, EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, a copy of the firm's Business Registration Certificate issued by the State of New Jersey, and a Qualification Affidavit. Proposers must comply with N.J.S.A. 10:5-33 et seq. (Affirmative Action), N.J.S.A. 52:32-44 (Business Registration), and N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2 (Disclosure of Ownership). Proposals will remain firm for sixty (60) days after the submission deadline. For any questions, prospective proposers should contact Racquel C. Ferguson, QPA, at (973) 266-5162.