Title
Dept/ Agency: Administration/Office of the Business Administrator
Action: (X) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Competitive Contract - Pursuant to State Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1(b)(2), the competitive contracting process may be used for the operation, management or administration of social service programs.
Purpose: To provide Consulting Services and Technical Assistance for HUD Entitlement Programs.
Entity Name: Corelink Consulting, LLC
Entity Address: 8343 Roswell Rd, Suite 416, Atlanta, GA 30350
Contract Amount: Not to exceed $78,675.00
Funding Source: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)/HUD Entitlement Program
Contract Period: May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2028
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
(X) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions (X) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale (X) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
Additional Information:
No municipal funds are required for use of this contract.
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WHEREAS, the City of Newark (hereinafter “City”) requires consulting services and technical assistance to support the City’s compliance with HUD Entitlement Programs grant regulations and guidelines for the following four programs:
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
HOME investment Partnership Program (HOME)
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA)
WHEREAS, pursuant to State Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1(b)(2), the competitive contracting process may be used for the operation, management or administration of social service programs; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Fair and Open Process of State Pay-to-Play Law, N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5, the City publicly advertised a Request for Proposal (RFP) on March 5, 2026, for HUD Consulting Services with all such proposals due on March 27, 2026; and
WHEREAS, on March 27, 2026, five (5) proposals were submitted and evaluated, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.5, by a reviewing committee; and
WHEREAS, the committee determined that the proposal received from Corelink Consulting LLC located at 8343 Roswell Rd, Suite 416, Atlanta, GA 30350, (hereinafter referred to as “Consultant”), was one of the most advantageous to the City based on experience and all other criteria listed in the RFP; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to retain the services of Consultant to provide consulting services and technical assistance, in an amount not to exceed Seventy-Eight Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy Five Dollars and Zero Cents ($78,675.00), for the period of May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2028, with an option to for an additional term of one (1) year, subject to Municipal Council approval, if additional funds are made available by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act (HCDA); and
WHEREAS, this Contract is being awarded to the Consultant in compliance with the State Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1(b)(2); and
WHEREAS, the Municipal Council of the City deems it to be in the best interest of the City to enter into a contract with Consultant for the provision of consulting services and technical assistance for HUD Entitlement programs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor and/or his designee, and the Business Administrator, are hereby authorized to enter into and execute a contract, on behalf of the City of Newark (“City”), with Corelink Consulting LLC,8343 Roswell Rd, Suite 416, Atlanta, Georgia 30350 (“Consultant”), for the provision of consulting services and technical assistance services to the HUD Entitlement Programs, in an amount not to exceed Seventy-Eight Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy Five Dollars and Zero Cents ($78,675.00), to be funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act (HCDA) for a period of May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2028, with an option to extend for an additional term of one (1) year subject to the authorization of the Newark Municipal Council.
2. The Municipal Council ratifies this Contract from May 1, 2026, through the date of adoption of this authorizing Resolution.
3. The total compensation to be paid pursuant to said contract shall not exceed $78,675.00 and this shall be funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act (HCDA) Grant.
4. The terms of the Contract may only be waived or amended in writing and signed by the parties duly authorized to execute this Contract, subject to the approval of the Newark Municipal Council by Resolution. The term of this Contract may be extended for up to one (1) year, subject to the authorization of the Newark Municipal Council.
5. The Municipal Council ratifies the use of competitive contracting for processing and awarding Housing and Urban Development Entitlement Programs from March 5, 2026, to the date of adoption of this authorizing resolution and authorizes said use in the future.
6. This Contract is being awarded pursuant to the Community Development Block Grants Program, 24 CFR 576.1 et seq., and is in compliance with the fair and open procedures of the State Pay-to-Play Law, N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5, State Local Public Contracts Law -- including but not limited to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1(b)(2) and the City’s Ordinance on Pay-to-Play, R. O. 2:4-22C.1.
7. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:30-5.5, attached hereto is Comptroller’s partial certification, which states that funds in the amount of Seventy Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($70,000.00), are available in the 2026 Temporary Budget under Business Unit: NW051, Department G25, Div./Proj. M25R0, Activity A, Account #71250, Budget Ref B2025 in the aforementioned Business Administrator Department. All Certifications of Funds shall be filed along with the original Resolution in the Office of the City Clerk. Funding beyond the Temporary Budget is subject to the availability and appropriation of funds. After adoption of the 2026 Budget, a certificate of availability of funds shall be prepared for the remaining balance of the entire contract and same shall be prepared for the remaining balance of the entire contract and same shall be filed together with this Resolution in the Office of the City Clerk.
9. 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 its passage.
10. A fully executed copy of the contract shall be filed with the Office of the City Clerk by the Business Administrator.
STATEMENT:
This Resolution hereby ratifies and authorizes the Mayor and/or his designee, the Business Administrator, to enter into and execute a contract on behalf of the City of Newark with Corelink Consulting LLC,8343 Roswell Rd, Suite 416, Atlanta, Georgia 30350, to provide consulting services and technical assistance services for HUD Entitlement Programs, for a period of May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2028, in an amount not to exceed Seventy-Eight Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy Five Dollars and Zero Cents ($78,675.00), funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act (HCDA), with an option to extend for an additional term of one (1) year subject to the approval and authorization by the Newark Municipal Council. No municipal funds are required.