What the buyer needs
AI summaryThe City of East Orange seeks proposals on behalf of the East Orange Board of Water Commissioners for general and special legal counsel services. The selected counsel must possess general litigation experience, municipal water utility expertise, and specialized environmental law knowledge encompassing enforcement, permitting decisions, regulatory compliance, and representation before administrative bodies. Responsibilities also include advising on the Open Public Meetings Act and Open Public Records Act and attending required public meetings. Eligibility is limited to onshore U.S. organizations. Interested respondents must submit all questions by November 30, 2026, and deliver electronic proposals via the Procurement Portal no later than 11:00 a.m. prevailing local time on December 9, 2026. The evaluation will assess experience and reputation, meeting availability, relevant litigation results, and pertinent government experience to award the most advantageous proposal.
Scope of work
- Provide advice and representation in a wide variety of legal matters
- General litigation and specialized knowledge of water utilities functions within municipal government
- Environmental law matters including environmental enforcement, permitting decisions, penalty enforcement actions, and regulations
- Assist in cooperation with and coordination of requested information from governmental agencies
- Represent the Board of Water Commissioners and designated personnel before tribunals, boards, and panels
- Advise on Open Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act
- Handle discovery matters including e-discovery under new discovery rules
- Maintain close working relationship with Office of Corporation Counsel and attend meetings as called
How proposals are evaluated
| Criterion | Weight / scoring |
|---|---|
| Experience and reputation in the field | Not specified |
| Availability to accommodate the required meetings of the EOBWC and City as needed | Not specified |
| Litigation experience and results in the areas of law described in Section 2 | Not specified |
| Pertinent government experience | Not specified |
Minimum qualifications
- General litigation experience and specialized knowledge of water utilities functions within municipal government
- Expertise in environmental law concerning municipal and regional water providers, enforcement, permitting, and regulations
- Proven record of litigation experience in Federal court, Superior Court, or administrative agencies within the past 5 years
- Understanding of the Open Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act
- Clear understanding of new discovery rules including e-discovery
- Compliance with New Jersey Business Registration requirements pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:32-44
Documents to include with your response
- Business Entity Disclosure Certification
- Non-Collusion Affidavit
- Disclosure of Ownership Form
- Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement Form
- Mandatory Equal Employment Opportunity Notice Acknowledgement
- Professional Service Entity Information Form
- Qualification Affidavit
- Submission Form
- Acknowledgement of Corrections, Additions or Deletions Form
- Certification of Non-Involvement in Prohibited Activities in Russia or Belarus
How to submit
- Method
- Electronic via Procurement Portal
- Instructions
- Submitted electronically via https://vendors.planetbids.com/portal/85923/bo/bo-detail/147215. Only electronic proposals shall be accepted.