Project Information

Bid Title

26-124 - RFP for Labor Counsel Services 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. #

26-124

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Bid Number:	26-124
Bid Title:	26-124 - RFP for Labor Counsel Services 2026
Category:	Bid Notices
Status:	Open

Publication Date/Time: 4/16/2026 8:00 AM Closing Date/Time: Open Until Contracted Related Documents: 26-124 Labor Counsel Services - 2026-2027 - Revised WORD Legal Notice RFP for Professional Legal Services for 2026- Rev - Copy

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CITY OF CLIFTON

DEPARTMENT OF PURCHASING

26-124-LABOR COUNSEL SERVICES

FOR

THE CITY OF CLIFTON

June 6, 2026 – June 5, 2027

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR FAIR AND OPEN PROPOSAL

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5 et seq., the City of Clifton is soliciting a Fair and

Open Proposal for Labor Counsel Services for the period June 6, 2026 to June 5, 2027.

Proposals shall be endorsed “Labor Counsel Services” 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

CITY OF CLIFTON

REQUEST FOR

PROPOSALS

LABOR COUNSEL FOR THE CITY OF CLIFTON

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

Services to the City, as directed by the Municipal Attorney or his designee, for a contract

period beginning on June 6, 2026 and ending June 5, 2027. 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).

1. GENERAL

It is the intent of this Request for Proposals (RFP) to obtain proposals from

interested and qualified law firms specializing in representation of management for

public entities in labor matters. The City of Clifton is a civil service jurisdiction

with over 700 employees that are represented by seven labor unions. The response

shall set forth the firm’s experience in public sector labor law, a price proposal for

consulting, defending and litigating labor matters and representing the City in

matters involving labor negotiations, interest arbitration, grievances, PERC

matters, training of City employees in matters of sexual harassment,

discrimination and hostile work environment issues, consulting with the Municipal

Attorney, City Manager and Personnel Officer on labor matters, and conducting

investigations. The Respondent should be aware of the fact that the City of Clifton

is a civil service municipality and, therefore, the provisions of Title 11A of the New

Jersey Statutes do apply to personnel matters within the City.

It shall be the Respondent’s responsibility to advise the Purchasing Agent (in

writing) of any language or requirement that inadvertently restricts or limits the

requirements stated in the RFP to a single source.

All questions relating to the RFP shall be in writing to PurchasingAgentAmisha Jariwala.

Priore no later than seven (7) days prior to the deadline for receipt of proposals.

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 five (5) days

prior to receipt of Proposals.

2. SCOPE OF SERVICES

Proposals must be made on the basis that it either meets or exceeds the

requirements contained herein. All Respondents must be capable of performing

the above and below services listed:

1. Provide general advice, assistance and representation to the Mayor and

Municipal Council, City Manager, Municipal Attorney and Personnel Officer

regarding labor and personnel matters.

2. Represent the City in connection with arbitration and mediation proceedings in

connection with the collective bargaining process.

3. Review and draft Collective Bargaining Agreements on behalf of the City.

4. Represent and defend the City before any Court or Administrative Agency

including any appeals, regarding any claim brought against the City alleging

violations of the law against discrimination, Civil Rights Act and matters before the

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Public Employment Relations

Commission of the State of New Jersey.

5. File all necessary pleadings and documents with the appropriate Courts and/or

administrative agencies, in matters for which the firm has been retained.

3. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

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

proposal:

o At a minimum, the Respondent shall have five (5) consecutive years

experience as labor and employment counsel, representing management.

o The Respondent must currently represent at least three (3) public entities in

areas of employment and labor law, with at least one (1) public entity of

similar size to the City of Clifton.

o The Respondent must also demonstrate a consistent pattern of successfully

managing personnel matters before Courts and administrative agencies.

o The Respondent must maintain an office within a reasonable distance to the

City of Clifton.

o The Respondent must display a high degree of knowledge of the applicable

chapters of Title 40 and 40A of the Statutes of New Jersey, American with

Disabilities Act (“New Jersey LAD”), Fair Labor Standards Act, Family

Medical Leave Act, both State and Federal and labor and employment law.

o The Respondent must have a sufficient staff to perform the services set forth

in the Scope of Services in this RFP.

o The Respondent must not have represented or is not currently representing

a client whose interests are adverse to that of the City of Clifton, thereby

creating a conflict of interest. The period of time covered by this restriction

is five years prior to the date of the proposal submitted in response to this

RFP.

o The Respondent must maintain professional liability insurance in the

minimum amount of One Million Dollars per occurrence ($1 million

aggregate).

4. PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS

The Respondent:

o 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.

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

response and the contact person for the RFP.

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

assigned as the Labor and Employment Counsel for the City.

o Shall describe the professional achievements of the firm and the principal

who would be assigned to the City of Clifton as its account consultant such

as educational background, licenses, number of clients handled and number

of years as a labor attorney. Resumes or summarized credentials may be

attached.

o Shall provide a list of New Jersey public sector entities for which the firm

has provided similar services to those contained herein, including name, title

and phone number of the appropriate contact person within the entity.

o All respondents must be employees or owners of the firm.

o Proposed fees and hourly rates for partners and associates of the firm.

Hourly rates for paralegal services are not permitted.

o The Respondent may submit any supplemental information it deems

important to the evaluation of this proposal and the reason why it should be

considered in the overall evaluation of the proposal.

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541110Offices of Lawyers
• NAICS 541990All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• NAICS 561320Temporary Help Services

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