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RFP UEZ 5-Year Strategic Plan

BID #: N/A

DUE: 4/22/2026

VALUE: $125

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Executive Summary

The Township of Hillside, New Jersey is seeking proposals from qualified consultants to create a 5-year Zone Development Plan for its Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) program, as required by the UEZA. The plan should set forth the boundaries of the enterprise zone, findings on economic and social conditions, and strategies for stimulating investment and economic development. The consultant will work with Hillside UEZ to develop a roadmap to guide the township in achieving its goals for economic growth and redevelopment. The fee for the entire scope of services should not exceed $125,000. Proposals are due by Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 at 3:00 PM.

Web Content

RFP UEZ 5-Year Strategic Plan - Source: https://www.hillsidenj.us/rfp---rfq-bids

Document Text

--- Document: RFP UEZ 5-Year Strategic Plan Document ---
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Township of Hillside, New Jersey 
Request for Proposals for 
 
CONSULTANT 
FOR THE CREATION OF THE 
 
Township of Hillside 
Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) 
5-Year Zone Development Plan 
 
 
Deadline for all Submissions 
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026, 3:00 PM 
 
 
 
 
 
Return all Proposals to: 
Rayna E. Harris, Municipal Clerk 
Hillside Municipal Building 
1409 Liberty Avenue  
Hillside, NJ 07205 
 


Request for Proposal 
Create a 5-Year Development Plan as required by the UEZA 
For Hillside Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) 
 
Pursuant to provisions of Local Public Contracts Law N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5 (1) (a) (ii), 
The Township of Hillside and the Hillside Urban Enterprise Zone (HUEZ) are seeking 
proposals from qualified consultants to provide services in creating a preliminary 5-
year Zone Development Plan for its Urban Enterprise Zone Program. 
You are hereby requested to submit a proposal that provides the Township with 
information to evaluate your firm with regard to the following factors: 
A) Experience and reputation in the field. 
B) Knowledge of the subject matter 
C) Availability to attend all required meetings. 
D) Availability for personnel, facilities, equipment and other resources to provide 
services. 
E) Qualifications/experience of personnel/organization, including list/status of 
major projects. 
F) Any other factors your firm wishes the Township to consider in evaluating 
the firm’s ability to perform the respective professional services by the 
Township. 
Bidders are required to comply with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et. seq. 
and N.J.A.C. 17:27-1 et. seq., Affirmative Action requirements, N.J.S.A. 19:44A-
20.4 et. seq., P.L. 2004, Chapter 19 (as amended by P.L. 2005, c.51) 
All proposals will be evaluated on the basis of that which is the most advantageous 
to the Township, taking into consideration the above factors.  
Please be further advised that the Township reserves the right to reject all 
proposals. 
The Township reserves the right to reject any or all proposals in whole or in part 
and to waive such informalities as may be permitted by law. 


Introduction 
The Hillside UEZ is one of 32 designated Urban Enterprise Zones encompassing 37 
municipalities in the State of New Jersey. The Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) Program, 
enacted in 1983, is an Affiliate of the Department of Community Affairs. The program’s 
charter is to foster an economic climate that revitalizes designated urban communities and 
stimulates their growth by encouraging businesses to develop and create private sector jobs 
through public and private investment.  
To accomplish its charter, business incentives are provided to certified zone businesses 
through a 50 percent reduced sales tax collection on certain retail sales, and sales tax 
exemptions on a limited amount of qualified business purchases. In addition, a portion of 
the sales taxes collected in Urban Enterprise Zone communities are given back as Zone 
Assistance Funds (ZAF) that can be utilized in the community for projects that will meet the 
goals and objectives set out in the 5-year Development Plan. 
 
Project Overview 
HUEZ is seeking a qualified consultant to prepare a preliminary 5-year zone development plan 
as required by the recently enacted amended UEZ legislation. The zone development plan will 
set forth the boundaries of the enterprise zone and include findings of fact concerning the 
economic and social conditions existing in the enterprise zone, and each municipality’s policy 
and intentions for addressing these conditions, and may include proposals respecting: 
(1) Utilizing the powers conferred on the municipality by law for the purpose of 
stimulating investments and economic development of the zones. 
(2) Utilizing State assistance through the provisions of P.L.1983, c.303 (C.52:27H-
60 et seq.) relating to State tax benefits and enterprise zone assistance funds. 
(3) Securing the involvement in, and commitment to, zone economic development 
by private entities, including zone neighborhood associations, voluntary 
community organizations supported by residents and businesses in the zone. 
(4) Utilizing the powers conferred by law to revise municipal planning and zoning 
ordinances and other land use regulations as they pertain to the zone in order to 
enhance the attraction of the zone to prospective developers. 
(5) Increasing the availability and efficiency of support services, public and private, 
generally used by and necessary to the efficient functioning of commercial and 
industrial facilities in the area, and the extent to which the increase or 
improvement is to be provided and financed by the municipal government or by 
other entities. 
 
The 5-Year Zone Development Plan will be submitted to the local governing body for 
approval. Then be submitted to the NJ Urban Enterprise Zone Authority for approval. 
 
 


Scope of Services 
The consultant will work with Hillside UEZ to develop a 5-year roadmap to guide us in order to achieve 
its goals and objectives in stimulating economic growth and redevelopment within the township. The 
plan should include (but not limited to) the following elements: 
 
I. 
Introduction, Community overview and Plan Development Process 
A. Introduction of the joint UEZ Community 
B. Regional and Municipal Setting/Location of the Existing UEZ with Map 
1. Economic/Social Conditions in the joint UEZ Community Unemployment 
2. Economic Conditions 
a) Municipal Distress Index 
b) Supply and Demand Market Analysis 
3. Income and Poverty 
4. Educational Attainment 
5. Housing Characteristics 
6. Workforce Characteristics 
C. Process of Plan Development 
1. Community Organization Outreach, including minority outreach. 
2. Business Outreach, including minority outreach. 
3. Survey of residents and business on what they would like to see in the UEZ. 
II. 
Milestones, Accomplishment and Benefits Milestones 
A. Description of the Municipality’s Previous UEZ Projects 
B. Impacts from Zone Sales Tax Act 
C. Summary of Zone Benefits and Uses from Past Projects 
 
III. 
UEZ Economic Development Vision, Goals and Objectives 
A. Vision for the Hillside UEZ 
B. Economic Goals and Objectives 
C. Coordination with Other Plans, Programs, and Projects 
1. Hillside Business Improvement Districts (BID’s) 
2. County and Regional Plans and Programs 
3. Municipal Programs and Special Development Designations (Opportunity Zones, 
Areas in Need of Redevelopment, Empowerment Zones) 
4. State Agencies (NJEDA, NJRA) 
D. Proposed Changes to UEZ Boundaries w/justification 
1. Expansion and Deletion of Area (zero net gain) 
2. Spider legs can be eliminated. 
E. Major Initiatives for Next 5 years for Municipality 
1. Matching grant programs for construction or rehabilitation 
2. UEZ Micro/Mini Loan/Incentive Program 
3. Redevelopment initiatives/projects 
4. Façade matching grants 
5. Improvement of public infrastructure 
6. Training programs 
7. Special Events 
8. Planning and Professional Services 
9. Securing vehicles, equipment, machinery, etc. 
10. Attending multi-day conferences, seminars and trainings 
 
 


IV. 
Marketing and Implementation 
A. Existing and Proposed Partnerships and Their Roles in 
Marketing and Implementation 
B. Other Funding and Implementation Resources 
C. Proposed UEZ Program Structure and Budget Outline for Municipality 
1. Proposed Operational Structure with Program Controls Preliminary Budget 
Framework 
a. Proposed Projects with Total Budget 
b. Public Safety (not to exceed 25 percent of funding) 
c. Administration Expenses (not to exceed 10 percent of funding) 
D. Timeline for Implementation 
E. Outline of Proposed Metrics and Measurements of Success 
V. 
Summary and Next Steps 
A. Local and Municipal Approvals as needed. 
B. Approvals by NJ Urban Enterprise Zone Authority (UEZA) 
C. Authorization and Implementation 
Proposal Requirements 
Proposals should include (but not limited to) the following information: 
1. Approach - describing how the respondent will accomplish the scope of 
work and requirements as listed herein. 
 
2. Qualifications - showing how the respondents’ firm and assigned team 
members are qualified to provide the scope of work and requirements as 
listed herein. 
 
3. Project Schedule - showing key task target dates, including surveys, 
community meetings, public meetings and staff team meetings, and 
estimated task duration. Liquidated Damages the successful respondent 
must complete this project within 12 weeks from the date of the contract 
award. There will be a specific start date and end date in the contract. For 
each day, the project is delayed/not completed a $500 per day fee will be 
subtracted from the contractor’s final invoice. Hillside UEZ will consider 
extenuating and extraordinary circumstances that may delay project 
completion. 
 
4. Fees – for entire scope of services, total “not to exceed” $125, 000. Provide an 
itemized breakdown of proposed costs for each service and hourly rates for all 
team members on the project. The Township reserves the right to negotiate the 
services and cost based upon support from internal staff. 
 
 


Submission of Proposal 
 
Submission of the RFP should include the following: 
 
1. Description of professional planning experience; particularly providing planning services to 
municipalities, economic development divisions, housing authorities and other governmental 
entities. Special attention should be paid to firm’s experience working with local government in 
urban municipalities.  
 
2. Statement of Corporate Ownership: A description of the business organization (i.e., 
corporation, partnership, joint venture, etc.) its ownership and organizational structure.  
 
3. The number of years the firm has been in business under the present name.  
 
4. Any judgments, claims or suits pending or outstanding against the company. If yes, please 
explain.  
 
5. Statement regarding whether the firm is now or has been involved in any bankruptcy or re‐
organization proceedings in the last ten (10) years. If yes, please explain.  
 
6. Resumes of the principals, project manager(s) and professional staff who would work directly 
with the Township. 
 
7. Copy of Fee Schedule 
 
8. An Affirmative Action Statement.  
 
9. A completed Non-Collusion Affidavit.  
 
10. References who can attest to the Consultant ability to work on similar projects and prior 
experience. Reference information should include:  
a. Contact Person and title  
b. Name of Municipality  
c. Telephone Number and email address  
d. Firm’s key personnel assigned to referenced project.  
e. Project Name 
 
11. Successful Respondent will be required to submit a copy of general liability (Errors and 
Omissions) insurance to the Township. 
 
12. Respondents must submit 3 copies and a digital file of their qualifications to:  
Rayna E. Harris, Municipal Clerk 
Hillside Municipal Building 
1409 Liberty Avenue  
Hillside, NJ 07205 
rharris@hillsidenj.us  
 
Questions 
Must be emailed to John Sowell, UEZ Coordinator at  jsowell@hillsidenj.us 
 
 


To assure that the Hillside UEZ 5-Year Development Plan is 
approved by the NJ Urban Enterprise Zone Authority (UEZA), 
shown below is their check list for reviewing the Plan.

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"...edule - showing key task target dates, including surveys, community meetings, public meetings and staff team meetings, and estimated task duration. Liquidated Damages the successful respondent must complete this project within 12 weeks from the date of the contract award. There will be a specific start date and e..."

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