Project Information

Bid Title

NOTICE AND SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS FOR PROFESSIONAL BOND COUNSEL SERVICES FOR THE BOROUGH OF TOTOWA

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 BOND COUNSEL SERVICES FOR THE BOROUGH OF TOTOWA

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BOROUGH OF TOTOWA

NOTICE AND SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS FOR PROFESSIONAL BOND COUNSEL

SERVICES 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 bond work services as the Municipal Bond Counsel 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 BOND COUNSEL FOR THE

BOROUGH OF TOTOWA

The Borough of Totowa is soliciting proposals for the position of Bond Counsel to provide

services to the Borough. The Borough will select one vendor for the position of Bond Counsel

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 Bond Counsel 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 BOND COUNSEL

One (1) law firm will be appointed by the Borough to serve as the official Municipal Bond

Counsel for a term of one (1) year to perform bond work services for the Borough of Totowa. The

appointment term will expire on December 31, 2026.

II. SCOPE OF SERVICES

Bond Counsel shall perform the following minimum duties as well as those prescribed by

any applicable laws and ordinances:

1. attend all public meetings with the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Totowa

and attend all necessary work sessions of the Borough Council as required;

2. prepare Bond Ordinances and review the adoption proceedings;

3. prepare and review public finance resolutions;

4. prepare and issue Bond Anticipation, Special Emergency and Tax Anticipation

Notes;

5. prepare and issue General Obligation Bonds;

6. prepare and/or review any Preliminary Official Statement and Official Statement;

7. prepare and review any application to the Local Finance Board and attend any

related meetings of the Board;

8. provide legal advice and assistance on bond matters to the Mayor and Council and

other Municipal Officials as needed;

9. perform any additional duties as directed by the Borough.

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 Bond Counsel for Borough of Totowa, it must be

demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Borough of Totowa that the potential vendor:

1. is multi-disciplined with at least ten (10) years experience in all aspects of

bond work (the appointed attorney may be assisted by employees of his/her

firm with lesser levels of experience);

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

3. has at least five (5) years prior experience as a Bond Counsel;

4. 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 Bond Counsel;

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;

13. 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, Bond

Counsel, 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. Bond

Counsel or his firm shall secure and maintain professional liability insurance for itself and all

professional staff with a limit of not less than Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) 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

Council 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 Bond Counsel;

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
• NAICS 541990All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

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