Municipal Budget Consultant (for City Council)

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is actively soliciting qualification proposals from highly experienced persons and/or firms to provide Municipal Budget Consultant Services specifically for its City Council. This professional engagement is slated for the period of January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, emphasizing a critical need for expert financial guidance. The successful consultant's comprehensive scope of work will include the diligent review, analysis, and provision of strategic guidance on the Calendar Year 2024 Municipal Budget. Key responsibilities involve regular meetings with City Council members, attendance at all City Council budget hearing meetings, necessary consultations with the City Administration, participation in all City Council meetings where formal action on the budget is scheduled, and the preparation of relevant reports as specifically requested by a majority of the City Council. This initiative underscores the City's commitment to robust financial oversight and transparent governance within East Orange. Prospective contractors must meet rigorous qualification standards, demonstrating profound expertise in modern government budgeting principles, concepts, practices, and methods, along with strong statistical and research theory and procedures. A mandatory minimum of five (5) years of experience is required, focusing on the development, evaluation, analysis, and revision of budgetary control systems, as well as comprehensive budget preparation and presentation. Crucially, respondents must possess five years of practical experience with the New Jersey Calendar Year Municipal Budget and a thorough knowledge of New Jersey Budget Laws and Regulations. Furthermore, applicants are required to be a Registered Municipal Accountant (RMA) in the State of New Jersey and/or a Certified Municipal Financial Officer (CMFO) in the State of New Jersey, each with at least five years of specialized experience. Required proposal components include the legal name and address of the firm, years in business, a detailed resume of personnel assigned, and contact information for three current calendar year municipal budget clients to serve as references. Qualification Proposals must be meticulously prepared and submitted to the Purchasing Agent in the East Orange City Hall, Division of Procurement. The absolute deadline for submissions is Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 12:00 PM prevailing time, at which point proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud at the City Council Chambers, located at 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. Bidders are required to provide one original (unbound) proposal, four physical copies, and one electronic copy on a jump drive. The sealed submission envelope must be clearly marked with “MUNICIPAL BUDGET CONSULTANT (for City Council)” on the outside. A comprehensive checklist of mandatory documents, including a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Business Registration Certificate, and various compliance acknowledgments, must be fully completed and included within the submission. For all inquiries regarding this Request for Qualifications, parties should direct their questions to Racquel C. Ferguson, QPA, Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162.