Project Information

Bid Title

NOTICE AND SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE POSITION OF PLANNING BOARD ATTORNEY FOR

Issuing Agency

Totowa borough

Location

New Jersey

Published Date

Nov 25, 2025

Closing Date

Dec 19, 2025

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

NOTICE AND SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE POSITION OF PLANNING BOARD ATTORNEY FOR

THE BOROUGH OF TOTOWA

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BOROUGH OF TOTOWA

NOTICE AND SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS FOR PROFESSIONAL LEGAL

SERVICES FOR THE POSITION OF PLANNING BOARD ATTORNEY FOR

THE BOROUGH OF TOTOWA

The Borough of Totowa is soliciting proposals from law firms licensed to practice in the State of

New Jersey to provide legal services as the Planning Board Attorney for the Borough of Totowa

for a term of one (1) year for the period of January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026.

Three (3) copies of the proposal must be submitted in a sealed envelope bearing the name and

address of the vendor and the name of the contract being bid upon on the outside of the

envelope. The proposal shall be addressed to Joseph Wassel, RMC, Borough of Totowa

Municipal Clerk, Municipal Complex, 537 Totowa Road at Cherba Place, Totowa, New Jersey

07512 and must be received no later than 12:00 p.m. on Friday, December 19, 2025. No

proposal shall be received in person or by mail after the designated time

Specifications and instructions are on file and may be obtained at the office of the Municipal

Clerk of the Borough of Totowa, Municipal Complex, 537 Totowa Road at Cherba Place,

Totowa, New Jersey 07512, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30

p.m. or online at www.totowanj.org.

Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of the most advantageous to the Borough of Totowa, all

factors considered. Proposals will be evaluated by the Mayor, designated members of the

Council and members of the Borough’s administration. The evaluation will consider:

1. Experience and reputation in the field;

2. Knowledge of the Borough of Totowa and the subject matter to be addressed

under the contract;

3. Availability to accommodate any required meetings;

4. Compensation proposal;

5. Other factors if demonstrated to be in the best interest of the Borough of Totowa.

A contract will be awarded as provided by law at a public meeting.

Proposals are being solicited through a fair and open process in accordance with N.J.S.A.

19:44A-20.5 et seq. The Borough of Totowa reserves the right to reject any and all proposals

and to waive any informalities or irregularities in the proposals received.

Joseph Wassel, RMC

Borough of Totowa Municipal Clerk

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE POSITION OF PLANNING BOARD ATTORNEY

FOR THE BOROUGH OF TOTOWA

The Borough of Totowa is soliciting proposals for the position of Planning Board

Attorney to provide services to the Borough. The Borough will select one vendor for the

position of Planning Board Attorney based upon a fair and open process in accordance with

N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.4, et seq.

Please note that in order to have a proposal considered by the Borough of Totowa, an

interested party must demonstrate the minimum requirements for the position of Planning Board

Attorney as set forth in Section III and that the interested party otherwise complies with the

proposal requirements set forth in the Borough of Totowa’s “Notice and Solicitation of

Proposals”.

I. APPOINTMENT OF PLANNING BOARD ATTORNEY

One (1) attorney will be appointed by the Borough to serve as the official Attorney for

the Borough of Totowa Planning Board for a term of one (1) year to perform legal services for

the Borough of Totowa. The appointment term will expire on December 31, 2026.

II. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Planning Board Attorney shall perform the following minimum duties as well as

those prescribed by any applicable laws and ordinances:

1. attend all regular and special Borough of Totowa Planning Board meetings

and attend all necessary work sessions of the Planning Board as required,

this shall include all routine phone calls with staff;

2. prepare and defend all litigation affecting the Planning Board or any

member of it, which is the result of decisions made on applications or in the

normal performance of their official duties pursuant to the Municipal Land

Use Law;

3. shall provide legal advice, research and assistance on any matter as needed

by the Planning Board;

4. shall draft all legal documents as may be required including but not limited

to the preparation of resolutions;

5. shall review all deeds, covenants, easements and any other documents as

needed;

6. shall represent or advise the Planning Board on any matter in which the

Planning Board may have a present or future interest;

7. perform any additional duties as directed by the Borough of Totowa

Planning Board.

III. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND VENDOR RESPONSES TO THIS

SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS

In order for the proposal to be considered by the Borough of Totowa, interested

parties must meet the following minimum requirements.

A. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

In order to fulfill the duties of Attorney for Borough of Totowa Planning Board, it

must be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Borough of Totowa that the potential

vendor: is multi-disciplined with at least ten (10) years experience in all aspects of the

Municipal Land Use Law (the appointed attorney may be assisted by employees of

his/her firm with lesser levels of experience);

1. has been licensed as an attorney for a minimum of ten (10) years;

2. has at least five (5) years prior experience as a Planning Board

Attorney;

3. has sufficient staff to satisfy the scope of services described in this

proposal.

B. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR VENDOR RESPONSE TO THE

BOROUGH OF TOTOWA’S SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS

Interested parties wishing to provide a proposal in response to the Borough of

Totowa’s solicitation shall provide the following minimum information in its proposal,

which proposal must be submitted at the location and within the time constraint set forth

above:

1. Full name and business address of entity or person submitting the

proposal and the name of the key contact person;

2. A description of the business organization (i.e., corporation,

partnership, joint venture, etc.) of each firm, its ownership and

organizational structure;

3. The number of years your organization has been in business under

the present name, and the number of years the business organization

has been under the current management;

4. List of all individuals who, if selected, will provide services to the

Borough of Totowa, along with a summary of the licenses held by

each such person;

5. Number of years each individual has provided services to municipal

entities in the State of New Jersey;

6. A description of services that will be provided to the Borough, in

addition to those set forth in Section II;

7. A copy of the firm’s State of New Jersey Business Registration

Certificate;

8. A statement and listing of professional service fees offered to the

Borough of Totowa as Planning Board Attorney;

9. A statement that applicant complies with the New Jersey Law

Against Discrimination, N.J.S.A. 10:5-1, et seq., and the Affirmative

Action Law of the State of New Jersey, P.L.1975 c.127 as set forth

in Exhibits “A” and “B”;

10. A completed Affidavit of Non-Collusion;

11. The name and addresses of at least three (3) references consisting of

clients for which the applicant has provided services in the past five

(5) years, which should include at least one (1) municipal entity

client;

12. A list and description of all professional liability claims, if any,

brought against the applicant during the past five (5) years;

13. Confirm the appropriate federal and state licenses to perform

activities;

14. The applicant shall provide the Borough of Totowa with three (3)

copies of its proposal.

In addition to the terms and conditions specified in the this Request for Proposal,

the Planning Board Attorney, or his firm shall secure and maintain, during the life of the

contract, insurance for workers compensation for its employees, officers, agents and/or

partners as required by law. The Planning Board Attorney, or his firm shall secure and

maintain professional liability insurance for itself and all professional staff with a limit of

not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) per claim and aggregate. A Certificate

of Insurance shall be provided to the Borough as evidence of such coverage.

IV. BASIS OF AWARD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT

The Borough shall award the professional service contract based upon

qualifications, merit, cost competitiveness, references and experience with issues

confronting the Borough of Totowa. Proposals will be evaluated by the Mayor of the

Borough of Totowa, selected members of the Planning Board and Borough officials, such

as the Municipal Clerk. The determination will be based upon the most advantageous

proposal to the Borough of Totowa, through price and other factors considered, which

have been stated above. The specific criteria will include, by way of example and not by

way of limitation:

1. Individual and firm experience and reputation;

2. Knowledge of the operations of the Borough of Totowa and the services to

be provided as the Planning Board Attorney;

3. Availability to accommodate any required meetings;

4. Compensation proposal;

5. Other factors that the Borough of Totowa deems to be in the best interests

of the Borough.

A contract will awarded as provided by law at a public meeting.

All awards are and shall be subject to the availability of funds for the professional

services.

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541110Offices of Lawyers
• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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