Project Information

Bid Title

26-116 - RFP for Affordable Housing Litigation 2026

Issuing Agency

City of Clifton

Location

New Jersey

Published Date

Apr 16, 2026

Closing Date

Apr 30, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

26-116

Original Source

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Project Description

Bid Number:	26-116
Bid Title:	26-116 - RFP for Affordable Housing Litigation 2026
Category:	Bid Notices
Status:	Open

Publication Date/Time: 4/16/2026 5:30 PM Closing Date/Time: Open Until Contracted Related Documents: 26-116 - Affordable Housing Litigation RFP 2026 Legal Notice RFP for Professional Legal Services for 2026- Rev - Copy

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CITY OF CLIFTON

DEPARTMENT OF PURCHASING

26-116 -SPECIAL COUNSEL SERVICES IN CONNECTION

WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING LITIGATION

FOR

THE CITY OF CLIFTON

2026 - 2027

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR FAIR AND OPEN PROPOSAL

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.4 et seq., the City of Clifton is soliciting Fair and Open Proposals

for Special Counsel Services in Connection with Affordable Housing Litigation for the period

of one (1) year from date of contract award. Proposals shall be endorsed “Special Counsel Services

in Connection with Affordable Housing Litigation” and delivered to Purchasing Agent Amisha

Jariwala, City of Clifton, 900 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, New Jersey 07013.

Due Date: April 30, 2026 at 11:00 AM

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CITY OF CLIFTON

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

SPECIAL COUNSEL SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING

LITIGATION SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF CLIFTON

The City of Clifton is soliciting a Request for Proposal (“RFP”) to provide Special Counsel Services

in Connection with Affordable Housing/COAH Litigation to the City, as directed by the Municipal

Attorney or designee thereof, for a contract period of one (1) year from date of contract award. All

candidates are required to comply with N.J.S.A. 10:5-31, et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27 as amended

(Affirmative Action).

I - GENERAL

City of Clifton is seeking Proposals (“RFP”) from law firms licensed to practice law in the State

of New Jersey that wish to provide Affordable Housing Counsel and legal representation of the

City in all matters relating to affordable housing. Any experience or knowledge of matters directly

affecting the City of Clifton should be addressed, for a contract period of one (1) year from date of

contract execution.

All candidates are required to comply with N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27 et seq. as

amended. (Affirmative Action).

The successful firm must have significant experience in representing New Jersey municipalities in

Affordable Housing/COAH litigation. Responsibilities will include working with the Municipal

Attorney to prepare and file pleadings, spending plan amendments, Declaratory Judgment

complaints and to represent the City in connection proceedings and hearings associated with the

court filing. Applicants should demonstrate knowledge and experience with affordable housing

and COAH litigation, Municipal Land Use Law, and zoning and planning. The successful firm

will provide the City of Clifton (City) with legal guidance relating to affordable housing litigation,

but not necessarily limited to:

1. Legal research and/or advisory opinions as needed;

2. Draft pleadings and stipulations for affordable housing issues;

3. Represent the City in litigation in federal and state courts and administrative forums with regard

to Affordable Housing issues;

6. Any other related matters as directed by the City.

All questions relating to the RFP shall be submitted in writing to City of Clifton Purchasing Agent,

Amisha Jariwala, via email to: ajariwala@cliftonnj.org, no later than 3:00 PM on April 23, 2026.

Any questions, which in the opinion of the City warrant a return reply or an amendment to the RFP,

will be furnished to all parties not less than seven (7) business days prior to receipt of Proposals.

Proposals shall be received no later than 11:00 AM on April 30, 2026, and must be made on the

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basis that they either meet or exceed the requirements contained herein.

II - SCOPE OF SERVICES

The City of Clifton requires outside counsel for representation of the City in Affordable Housing

Litigation and other Affordable Housing legal matters.

A. Represent the City in all affordable housing legal matters and shall advise and assist the

Municipal Attorney, the City Manager and the Departments as necessary of these matters.

B. Attend meetings of the Municipal Council as directed, draft ordinances and resolutions as

directed by the City Manager or the majority of the members of the City Council and give opinions

and rulings on questions of affordable housing law which may arise the request of a majority of the

members of the Municipal Attorney or the City Manager.

C. Represent the City in affordable housing litigation, and conduct trials, appeals and other

proceedings affecting the interest of the City as may be necessary or desirable, subject to the

approval of the Municipal Attorney.

D. Represent the City, subject to the approval of the Municipal Attorney or City Manager, in

affordable housing matters before the State entity which is conferred with the authority to administer

affordable housing matters.

E. Participate, as may be necessary and as may be directed by majority of the members of the

Municipal Attorney or the City Manager in preparation of any documents required by the State

entity which is conferred with the authority to administer affordable housing matters.

F. Work may include drafting pleadings, motions, briefs, and all other papers to be filed in court;

conducting and responding to discovery; attending all pre-trial, trial, and post-trial court

appearances; and handling appeals.

G. Respondent must also have resources sufficient to advance all costs, including the costs of any

experts needed to assess damage and the costs of the preparatory work described below.

H. Respondent must also be free of any conflict of interest and must comply with the conflicts policy

referred to in section III.i below.

III - MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Listed below are the minimum requirements necessary to be considered for this proposal:

a) At a minimum, the Respondent shall have five (5) consecutive years’ experience as

Affordable Housing Litigation Counsel, representing a municipality or other public

governmental entity.

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b) Respondents must demonstrate knowledge of COAH issues pursuant to the applicable

laws and regulations of New Jersey State.

c) The Respondent Must maintain a bona fide office in the State of New Jersey. Please list

the firm’s office address on the proposal signature form enclosed herein.

d) The Respondent must list past and present public entities represented in Affordable

Housing/COAH litigation.

e) The Respondent must identify the attorney(s) and support staff that will be assigned to

the account for handling Affordable Housing litigation and their experience in handling

such actions and the outcomes of the actions that they handled.

f) The Respondent must maintain an office within a reasonable distance to the City of

Clifton.

g) The Respondent must be licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey and appear

before all state and federal and administrative courts of the State of New Jersey for a period

of not less than five (5) years preceding appointment.

h) The Respondent must have a sufficient staff to perform the services set forth in the Scope

of Services in this RFP.

i) The Respondent must not have represented or is not currently representing a client whose

interests are adverse to those of the City of Clifton, thereby creating a conflict of interest and

the period of time covered by this restriction is five years prior to the date of the proposal

submitted in response to this RFP.

j) The Respondent must maintain professional liability insurance in the minimum amount

of One Million Dollars per occurrence (One million aggregate).

IV - PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS

The Respondent:

1. Shall provide Name, Federal I.D. number, address, phone and fax numbers of the

firm submitting the proposal and a brief description of legal background such as

years in business, size of staff and any affiliations.

2. Shall provide Name, title and address of principal/individual preparing this

response and the contact person for the RFP.

3. Shall provide Name, title, address and phone number of individual(s) to be assigned

as the Affordable Housing Counsel for the City.

4. Shall describe the professional achievements of the firm and the principal who

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Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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