Title
Dept/ Agency: Law
Action: (X) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Professional Services Contract
Purpose: To provide legal services concerning Worker’s Compensation Matters.
Entity Name: The Woolridge Law Firm, LLC
Entity Address: 515 Valley Street, Maplewood, New Jersey 07040
Contract Amount: Not to exceed $150,000.00
Funding Source: 2024 Budget/Law Department/Bus. Unit: NW024, Fund: 024, Dept. 24T, Div./Proj.: 5T24, Acct: #96310, Ref.: B2024
Contract Period: January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor (X) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale ( ) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
Additional Information:
body
WHEREAS, the City of Newark (the “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, the City’s Corporation Counsel caused to be published on the City of Newark’s website and a Notice of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Worker’s Compensation Counsel Services on or about September 6, 2023; and
WHEREAS, the City received a total of eight (8) proposals in response to the RFQ for Worker’s Compensation; and
WHEREAS, The Woolridge Law Firm LLC submitted a proposal and it was found based upon price and other factors to be in the best interest of the City to accept the proposal for the purpose of providing Legal Services concerning Worker’s Compensation Counsel Services; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to enter into a contract with The Woolridge Law Firm LLC, to provide legal services concerning Worker’s Compensation Counsel Services, in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($150,000.00), for a period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, which shall cover those existing matters currently being handled by The Woolridge Law Firm LLC, 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 Forty-Four Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($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 enter into and execute a contract with The Woolridge Law Firm LLC, 515 Valley Street, Maplewood, New Jersey 07040, to provide legal services concerning Worker’s Compensation Matters, in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($150,000.00), for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, which shall cover those existing matters currently being handled by The Woolridge Law Firm LLC 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 contract is awarded as an open-ended contract; pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:30-5.5(d)(2). A Certification of the Availability of Funds shall be executed each time a purchase order is placed and charged against the following Funding Sources This contract shall not exceed One Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($130,000.00) 2024.
4. A copy of the executed Agreement 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 a contract for legal services for Worker’s Compensation Matters with The Woolridge Law Firm LLC, 515 Valley Street, Maplewood, New Jersey 07040, in an amount not to exceed $150,000.00 for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024.