[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Estell Manor as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 8-1-2001 by Ord. No. 09-01 (Ch. II, Sec. 2-25, of the 1974 Revised General Ordinances); amended in its entirety at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III)]
The bidding and awarding of contracts shall be governed by the applicable statutes and regulations of the State of New Jersey, including, without limitation, the Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq.
[Adopted 12-13-2006 by Ord. No. 16-2006 (Ch. II, Sec. 2-30, of the 1974 Revised General Ordinances)]
This article shall be known as the "Competitive Negotiation Ordinance."
A. 
Whereas this municipality has a strong commitment to open and fair competition; and
B. 
Whereas qualification-based, competitive negotiation procedures help to ensure open and fair competition through published rules and decision-making criteria;
C. 
Therefore, it is accordingly found and determined that the paramount public interest is served by requiring that the City award all contracts or agreements to outside consultants for the provision of professional services on the basis of competitive negotiation.
As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
As defined at N.J.S.A. 40A:11-2(6), services rendered or performed by a person authorized by law to practice a recognized profession, whose practice is regulated by law, and the performance of which services requires knowledge of an advanced type in a field of learning acquired by a prolonged formal course of specialized instruction and study as distinguished from general academic instruction or apprenticeship and training. For purposes of this section, however, "professional services" shall not include professional artistic services as defined at N.J.S.A. 40A:11-2(6). "Professional services" shall include financial services or insurance services.
In the event that, at the December regular meeting of City Council, either the Mayor and one other member of City Council or any three members of City Council vote to consider a change in any of the professional positions, then the following procedures shall be used:
A. 
The municipality shall award all contracts or agreements for the provision of professional services on the basis of qualification-based, competitive negotiation.
B. 
Professional service contract requests for proposal shall be published by the posting of a public notice at least 10 days before the awarding of any contract for professional services.
(1) 
The public notice shall be:
(a) 
Prominently posted in the public place reserved for Sunshine Law[1] notices;
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.
(b) 
Mailed, telephoned, telegrammed, or hand-delivered to at least two newspapers designated to receive such notices because they have the greatest likelihood of informing the public within the municipality, one of which shall be the official newspaper of the municipality; and
(c) 
Filed with the Clerk of the municipality.
(2) 
The public notice shall, at minimum, include:
(a) 
A description of the professional services needed, including, where appropriate, a description of tasks involved.
(b) 
Threshold qualification requirements setting the highest possible, minimum standards for qualifying to compete for the particular services and tasks involved.
(c) 
Notice that standardized submission requirements and selection criteria are on file and available at a stated location in the City.
(d) 
Deadline and place for all submissions.
C. 
Standardized submission requirements shall include:
(1) 
Names and roles of the individuals who will perform the task and a description of their experience with projects similar to the matter being advertised.
(2) 
References and record of success.
(3) 
Description of ability to provide the services in a timely fashion (including staffing, familiarity and location of key staff).
(4) 
Cost details, including the hourly rates of each of the individuals who will perform services and time estimates for each individual, all expenses, and, where appropriate, total cost of "not to exceed" amount.
D. 
The selection criteria to be used in awarding a contact or agreement for professional services 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 subject matter.
(4) 
Cost competitiveness.
E. 
All submissions shall be kept on file during the term of the related contract and shall be public records after the deadline for the submission of proposals.
F. 
In the event that compliance with part or all of the requirements of this section is impracticable as regards a particular contract or agreement, the Township Council may waive part or all of the requirements by a majority vote of the full Council, together with publication of a resolution setting forth with specificity the reasons such waiver is required.