Title
Dept/ Agency: Law
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Professional Services Contract
Purpose: To provide legal services concerning Environmental Matters.
Entity Name: Three (3) Vendors - See list below
Entity Address: Three (3) Vendors Addresses - See list below
Contract Amount: Not to exceed $125,000.00, cumulative for three (3) vendors
Funding Source: 2024 Budget/Law Department
Contract Period: January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor (X) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP (X) RFQ
( ) Private Sale ( ) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
Additional Information:
1) DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole and Giblin LLP, 61 South Paramus Road, Suite 250, Paramus, New Jersey 07652;
2) Rainone Coughlin Minchello, LLC, 555 U.S. Highway One South, Suite 440, Iselin, New Jersey 08830-3100; and
3) Schenck, Price, Smith and King, LLP, 220 Park Avenue, Florham Park, New Jersey 07932
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WHEREAS, the City of Newark (“City”) is involved in ongoing Legal Matters and therefore has a need to acquire Legal Services; and
WHEREAS, Legal Services are Professional Services, exempt from the requirement for public bidding, pursuant to the Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(i); and
WHEREAS, on or about September 6, 2023, the Corporation Counsel of the City of Newark caused to be published in the Star Ledger and on the City of Newark’s website, a Notice of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Environmental Counsel Services; and
WHEREAS, the City received a total of four (4) proposals in response to the RFQ for Environmental Counsel Services; and
WHEREAS, Three (3) Vendors: (1) DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin LLP; (2) Rainone Coughlin Minchello LLC, and (3) Schenck, Price, Smith & King, LLP submitted proposals, and it was found based upon price and other factors, to be in the best interest of the City of Newark to accept those proposals for the purpose of providing Legal Services concerning Environmental Counsel Services; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to enter into a contract with DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin LLP, Rainone Coughlin Minchello LLC & Schenck, Price, Smith & King, LLP, to provide Legal Services concerning Environmental Matters, in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Twenty- Five Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($125,000.00), for a period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, which shall cover those existing matters currently being handled by DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin LLP, Rainone Coughlin Minchello LLC, & Schenck, Price, Smith & King, LLP, as well as new matters that may arise during the contract term; and
WHEREAS, the Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq.) requires that notice of the award of contracts for “Professional Services” without competitive bidding must be published in a local newspaper; and
WHEREAS, this contract is for an amount over $44,000.00 and is being awarded as a fair and open contract pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5 and is in compliance with the State Pay-to-Play and the City’s Pay-to-Play Ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Corporation Counsel, are authorized on behalf of the City of Newark to execute a contract with DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin LLP; 61 South Paramus Road Suite 250 Paramus, New Jersey 07652; Rainone Coughlin Minchello LLC, 555 U.S. Highway One South Suite 440 Iselin, New Jersey 08830-3100; and Schenck, Price, Smith & King, LLP, 220 Park Avenue, Florham Park, New Jersey 07932, to provide Legal Services concerning Environmental Matters, in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Twenty- Five Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($125,000.00)for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, which shall cover those existing matters currently being handled by DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin LLP, Rainone Coughlin Minchello LLC & Schenck, Price, Smith & King, LLP, as well as new matters that may arise during the contract term.
2. This contract is being awarded pursuant to the fair and open procedures of the State Pay-to-Play Law (N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5) and pursuant to the provisions of the Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(i)) and is in compliance with the City’s Ordinance on Pay-to-Play.
3. This is a contract which shall be awarded in one (1) fiscal year although the date on which it properly takes effect falls in the next fiscal year. Accordingly, this contract is subject to the availability and appropriation of sufficient funds in the year in which it takes effect pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:30-5.5(e). Funds for this contract in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Twenty- Five Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($125,000.00) shall be provided from the City of Newark 2024 Budget, Law Department.
4. A copy of the executed Agreements herein authorized shall be filed in the Office of the City Clerk by the Corporation Counsel and same shall be made available for public inspection.
5. A notice of this action shall be published in the newspaper authorized by law to publish a legal advertisement and as required by law within ten (10) days of the adoption of this resolution.
STATEMENT
This Resolution authorizes the Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Corporation Counsel, to enter into and execute contracts for legal services for Environmental Matters with DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin LLP; 61 South Paramus Road Suite 250 Paramus, New Jersey 07652, Rainone Coughlin Minchello LLC 555 U.S. Highway One South Suite 440 Iselin, New Jersey 08830-3100; Schenck, Price, Smith & King, LLP, 220 Park Avenue, Florham Park, New Jersey 07932, in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Twenty- Five Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($125,000.00) cumulative for all three (3) vendors) , for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024.