The City of Union City Request for Proposals from Architectural
Firms Interested in Providing Architectural Services
to the City’s Community Development Agency
from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025

Introduction

Pursuant to the Fair and Open Process described under N.J.S.A. 19:44A-1, et seq., the City of Union City (“City”) seeks proposals in response to this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) from Architectural Firms licensed to provide architectural services in the State of New Jersey that wish to provide architectural services to the City’s Community Development Agency as directed by the Board of Commissioners, or other appropriate official of the City for a contract period from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025. The successful firms must have significant experience providing architectural services to New Jersey municipalities. If awarded a contract, your company/firm shall be required to comply with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27 et seq. (See Exhibit A included herewith). The successful firm will provide the City with services relating to, but not necessarily limited to:

1. The Architectural Firm will provide basic architectural services to the City of Union City’s Community Development Agency (“CDA”) such as providing preliminary evaluations of projects, review alternative approaches to design and construction of projects, preparing drawings and specifications for projects and setting forth in detail the requirements for construction costs.
    
2. The Architectural Firm shall have experience with preparing necessary bidding information, bidding forms, the conditions of a contract, and the form of agreement between the CDA and the Contractor.
    
3. Attend meetings of the CDA upon request.
    
4. Handle any other matters requiring the expertise of an architect as directed by the CDA.
    
5. The vendor shall provide monthly billing statements that include a brief statement showing the original amount of the Contract, any increases established by amendment to the Contract, the amount previously billed under the Contract, and the total amount of unbilled funds remaining available under the Contract, and the total amount of unbilled funds remaining available under the Contract after deduction of the most recent amount billed.  A copy of each billing statement shall be made available to the State Fiscal Oversight Officer upon request.

Each candidate shall submit proof of business registration with the New Jersey Division of Taxation (P.L. 2004, C.57) prior to the award of contract, but preferably with their proposal, and must comply with the Affirmative Action requirements contained at N.J.A.C. 17:27 et seq. (See Exhibit A included herewith).

Proposers are advised that the contract with the successful proposer will permit the City to make payments to the successful proposer for approved services in accordance with, and within the time permitted by, the law governing prompt payment of public contracts for the purchase of goods and services.

Professional Information and Qualifications

Copies of this standardized submission requirements and selection criteria are on file and available from the Office of the City Clerk.  In addition to the forms included herewith, each proposer shall submit the following information:

1. Name of Firm;
    
2. Address of principal place of business and all architects or firm’s offices and corresponding telephone and fax numbers.  Please note specifically which architects will be assigned to work with the CDA;
    
3. Description of firm’s architects’ education, licensing, experience, qualifications, number of years with the firm and a description of their experience with projects similar to those described above;
    
4. Experience related to representation of public entities;
    
5. At least four (4) references, three (3) of which must have knowledge of your representation of a public entity;
    
6. Examples of your record of success serving public entities;
    
7. The firm’s ability to provide the services in a timely fashion (including staffing, familiarity and location of key staff);
    
8. Cost details, including the hourly rates of each of the individuals who will perform the services and the time estimates for each individual, all expenses, and a total “not to exceed” amount;
    
9. Statement of Ownership Disclosure (c.52:25-24.2) (form provided);
    
10. Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran Form (Prior to the award of contract but preferably with the proposal. Form provided);
     
11. Certification of Non-Involvement in Prohibited Activities in Russia or Belarus (Prior to the award of contract but preferably with the proposal. Form provided);
     
12. Business Registration Certificate (Prior to the award of contract but preferably with their proposal);
     
13. Statement, see attached, executed by a corporate officer, member, partner or sole proprietor certifying that there are no prior or pending ethics complaints against them or their company; and
     
14. The successful proposer must comply with the requirements set forth in the Mandatory Equal Employment Opportunity language included herewith (Exhibit A).

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria used in awarding a contract or agreement for professional services as described herein shall include:

1. Qualifications of the individuals who will perform the tasks and the amounts of their respective participation;
    
2. Experience and references;
    
3. Ability to perform the task in a timely fashion, including staffing and familiarity with the subject matter;
    
4. Cost competitiveness.

Submission Requirements

Sealed proposals will be publicly opened by the Acting Union City Clerk in her offices at Union City Hall, 3715 Palisade Avenue, Union City, at 10:15 AM on November 26, 2024.  Sealed proposals must be received no later than 10:15 AM on November 26, 2024 by:

Hilda I. Rosario, Acting City Clerk
City of Union City
3715 Palisade Avenue
Union City, New Jersey 07087

Please submit one original and two (2) copies of the RFP.  Use white 8 ½” x 11” paper.

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