About this opportunity
AI summaryThe County of Essex, New Jersey, requests statements of qualifications from onshore United States organizations to provide outside legal services throughout calendar year 2027. Required legal scopes include tort claims defenses, real estate transactions and condemnation, civil service and employee disciplinary matters, labor law and collective bargaining, workers' compensation, and intellectual property and software licensing. Bidders must hold required business registrations, though non-profit organizations are exempt if they provide designated documentation. Applicants must submit one original and two single-sided copies in a sealed envelope to the Office of Purchasing in Newark, New Jersey. The document lists conflicting submission deadlines of September 9 at 11:00 AM and November 18, 2026, while written questions must arrive eight business days prior to the deadline. The county evaluates proposals using technical criteria and management criteria, focusing on firm history, relevant track records, and staff qualifications. Standard outside legal counsel compensation ranges from $150.00 to $200.00 per hour, with specific rates set for complex matters, per diem decisions, and workers' compensation.
Buyer and opportunity details
- Client
- COUNTY OF ESSEX, NEW JERSEY
- Solicitation No.
- 26-226
Scope of work
- Tort Claims defenses
- Employment discrimination and Property damage
- County Lands, Zoning and Planning, and Foreclosure
- Real Estate purchases, sales and leases, eminent domain, condemnation
- Civil Service, Employee Disciplinary Matters, and Personnel Issues
- Labor Law, Collective Bargaining, and PERC Hearings
- Workers Compensation
- Intellectual Property, Software Licensing, OPRA, and Public bidding
How proposals are evaluated
| Criterion | Weight / scoring |
|---|---|
| Technical Criteria (demonstrates clear understanding, complete and responsive to RFQ) | Not specified |
| Management Plan (staffing and supervision of work) | Not specified |
| History and experience in performing the work (prior County work, track record, years in practice, reputation, staff qualifications) | Not specified |
| Other (factors demonstrated to be in the best interest of the County) | Not specified |
Minimum qualifications
- Firms and individual practitioners licensed to practice law in New Jersey
- Registered business pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:32-44
Documents to include with your response
- Statement of qualifications responding to all Section IV issues
- Business Registration Certificate (BRC) or 501C status for non-profits
- Statement of Certain Political Contributions Made After July 11, 1986
- Resumes of individuals providing services
- Representative list of relevant matters handled in past five years
- Most recent filing of employee information report with NJ Division of Contract Compliance & EEO
- Request for Qualifications Signature Page
Key dates
- RFQ Release
- November 3, 2026
- Closing Date for Receipt of Proposal
- September 9, at 11:00 AM
- Due Date
- November 18, 2026
- Submission Deadline
- 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 18, 2026
- Questions due
- no later than 4:30 PM at the end of business day, eight (8) business days prior to the proposal submission deadline
How to submit
- Method
- Sealed hard copy
- Instructions
- Submit one (1) original and two (2) copies in a sealed envelope to Julius N. Coltre, Purchasing Director, County of Essex, Office of Purchasing, Hall of Records, Room 335, 465 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Newark, NJ 07102. No double-sided copies.
Contract details
- Term
- Twelve (12) month period commencing January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2027
- Insurance and bonding
- Professional malpractice insurance coverage amount, self-retention amount, and carrier name must be indicated.