Planning Board Attorney and/or Zoning Board of Adjustment Attorney Professional Services

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is soliciting Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) for professional legal services to secure a qualified Attorney(s) for its Planning Board and/or Zoning Board of Adjustment. The selected legal professional will be responsible for providing comprehensive legal support, advice, and representation to the respective boards, ensuring compliance with the Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL) and Local Redevelopment Housing Law. Key responsibilities encompass preparing for and attending all regular and special board meetings (approximately 12 per year per board), defending litigation arising from board decisions, drafting necessary legal documents including legislation, deeds, covenants, and easements, and offering routine legal research and advice to board staff. The position provides a fixed per-meeting fee for general performance, with litigation and specialized legal services billed separately at the City’s enabling ordinance rate plus out-of-pocket expenses. Prospective contractors must be attorneys at law admitted to practice in the State of New Jersey and demonstrate extensive experience in municipal land use, zoning, and redevelopment law, as well as litigation. Essential qualifications include a core competency in the Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL), knowledge of Redevelopment and Local Redevelopment Law, and proven ability to interpret regulations and ordinances. Familiarity with the geographical area of East Orange and sufficient staffing to ensure responsiveness are critical evaluation factors. While no mandatory pre-bid meetings or site visits are indicated, all professional service contractors are required to comply with specific New Jersey statutes including N.J.S.A. 10:5-33 et seq. (Affirmative Action), N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27 et seq. (Contract Compliance and Equal Employment Opportunities), and N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2 (Disclosure of Ownership). Submissions for this Request for Qualifications are due by Thursday, November 29, 2018, at 11:00 AM. Proposals must be submitted to the City of East Orange, Division of Procurement, Municipal Building, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. Bidders are required to provide one original (unbound), four bound copies, and one electronic copy, enclosed in a sealed envelope clearly marked "PLANNING BOARD ATTORNEY AND/OR ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT ATTORNEY" with the bidder's name. Professional Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000.00 per claim and $1,000,000.00 aggregate is mandatory. All questions regarding the RFQ should be directed to Lisa L. Jackson, Q.P.A., Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162 or lisa.jackson@eastorange-nj.gov, UNLOCK or Dan Jennings, Policy & Planning Director, at (973) 266-5118 or dan.jennings@eastorange-nj.gov. UNLOCK