Little Egg Harbor Board of Education

Little Egg Harbor Board of Education REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL LEGAL SERVICES The Little Egg Harbor School District is seeking proposals for Legal Services from December 9, 2025 through June 30, 2026 as follows: General Counsel Services Special Education Services Labor Relations Services A copy of the RFP may be inspected or picked up at the Board office, 307 Frog Pond Road, Little Egg Harbor, NJ between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Further information may be obtained by emailing Carl Morelli, School Business Administrator/ Board Secretary at cmorelli@lehsd.org. Proposals are due in the business office by 9:00am, Thursday, October 30, 2025. A. BACKGROUND The Little Egg Harbor School District is a pre-k through 6 grade elementary school with approximately 1,650 students among three buildings, approximately 330 employees and a thirty-seven-million-dollar budget. Further information may be obtained by visiting the school district's website at www.lehsd.org Proposers are advised that for any specific matter the Board may retain the services of another Attorney. B. SERVICES SPECIFICATIONS Scope of Service: The Attorney shall be required to perform all legal services for the Board on an as-needed basis. Attorneys may submit proposals to provide services in General Counsel, Special Education, Labor/Personnel or for all service areas listed in the RFP. General Council Services to be provided: 1. Provide legal research and/or advisory opinions as needed. 2. Review and/or draft all contracts, Inter-Local and Inter-Agency agreements. 3. Attend any and/or all meetings of the Board of Education as directed. 4. Be readily available for meetings with the President, representatives of the Board of Education or district administrators upon request. 5. Advise the Board of Education of changes in state and federal law and regulations, as well as court decisions, which will impact the district. 6. Review and advise for legal notices, resolutions, Board policies and matters of district governance. 7. Review and advise with matters including, but not limited to, procurement and execution of contracts and contract disputes solution. 8. Provide advice and counsel on all matters related to regular students including discipline, attendance, adherence to rules and regulations, etc. 9. Representation of the Board with respect to matters involving interface with the municipal governing body, including planning and adjustment boards, financial matters, jurisdictional matters, etc. and with state agencies such as the EDA, DOE, EPA, as needed. 10. Provide assurance statements as required for financial audits, bonding matters and grant compliance. Special Education Counsel Services to be provided: 1. Review special education issues upon request and provide guidance to the Board and Administration. 2. Represent the district in mediation, upon request. 3. Representation of the district in all stages of mediation, including administrative law, commissioner, State Board and court proceedings until due process filed by parent/guardian. After which time, be available to consult with insurance appointed legal counsel. 4. Serve as the district's liaison to the legal representatives/advocates of parents. 5. Review special education contracts upon request. 6. Any additional matters as directed by the Board of Education. Labor/Personnel Counsel Services to be provided: 1. Advise the Board in legal matters with respect to labor relations and personnel administration. 2. Review grievances with the administration and assist in writing administrative responses to the same. 3. Represent the Board in all arbitrations, administrative proceedings, court proceedings, etc. involving labor relations or personnel administration. 4. Advise the Board on employment, employee discipline, seniority, tenure and other personnel administration matters. 5. Advise on proposed contract language and bargaining proposals. 6. Develop possible salary guides in accordance with Board guidelines. 7. Prepare final contract documents upon settlement and ratification of tentative agreements. Services to be included in each of the service areas: 1. Legal counsel and advice to the Board and Administration. 2. Timely advice and counsel on emergent matters. Counsel response is expected, at least verbally to be followed in writing, within a maximum of 24 hours upon inquiry made by the Board or Administration. 3. Written legal opinions upon request. 4. Initiate and/or defend lawsuits as necessary at the direction of the Board. 5. Prepare all necessary legal documents. 6. Attend any and/or all meetings of the Board, meetings with committees or third parties, upon request. 7. Work cooperatively with legal counsel of insurance companies, consortiums or other collectives with whom the Board may be affiliated. 8. Represent the school district in all judicial and/or administrative proceedings within the specific service area in which the district or any of its Board members, administrators or agents may be a party or have an interest. 9. Provide written, timely notification to the Board of changes in school law or state regulations, including court and administrative decisions that may impact the operation of the school. 10. Conduct in-service programs on specified legal issues for appropriate staff members, upon request. 11. Fulfill other legal duties as are commonly accepted and assigned. Minimum Requirements: 1. At least five (5) years of experience in public school law, public school litigation and familiarity with NJSA and NJAC. 2. Experience as a public school attorney in the State of New Jersey. 3. Be licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey and be a member of the Bar in good standing. 4. One attorney shall be designated to represent the interests of the Board. This individual shall have been admitted and/or licensed in his/her profession in NJ and be in good standing. 5. The firm shall have three or more licensed professionals on staff whose major focus and work has been and remains providing professional services to and advising public entities. 6. If awarded a contract, your firm shall be required to comply with the requirements of NJSA 10:5-31 et seq. and NJAC 17:27. 7. Separation clause stating either party may terminate the contract by giving sixty (60) days written notice of intent to resign. Notice shall be in writing. C. PROPOSAL The Little Egg Harbor School District seeks, from all participating respondents, information that will assist the district in selecting the respondent who will provide the highest quality services at a fair and competitive price in a prompt and professional manner. All respondents shall prepare a presentation package to be submitted with the RFP. An elaborate proposal is not required, nor desired. The proposal should be simple and straightforward. The Presentation Package shall include, at a minimum, the following: 1. Transmittal Letter: Each proposing Attorney shall submit a transmittal letter with their proposal that identifies the firm that is submitting the proposal and includes a commitment by said Attorney that they will serve as District Attorney if their proposal is accepted by the Board. 2. Description of Services and Experience: All proposing Attorneys should describe their practices and the services to be provided as well as acknowledge that they understand the scope of services sought by the Board. 3. Names of individuals who will perform required tasks as well as the listing of their licenses, qualifications and experience. Identify persons who will serve as back up to the primary person including resumes of all parties. 4. Fee structure: Submit an hourly rate for which the Attorney agrees to provide services, identifying whether clerical and other overhead costs will be billed separately. If the Attorney is requesting a retainer, a detail of what the retainer will cover must be included. D. Technical Criteria Description of Services Respondents should list all services to be rendered with their explanation in detail on how they will provide the services. Respondents shall also provide evidence of how services of similar type were provided to other public/private schools in New Jersey. Respondents, by submitting a proposal, acknowledge that they fully understand the scope of service, work and activity to be performed. Respondents are to provide evidence of any innovation and/or successful approach on providing the services requested. 1. Management Criteria A. Business Organization The respondent shall submit a full description of the business organization to include, but not be limited to: 1. Name, address, phone, fax, website, e-mail address and other information of the professional firm or individual; 2. An organizational chart noting the names of all principals and partners; 3. Resumes of key staff members; and 4. Other information concerning individuals of the professional firm that would assist the school district in the evaluation process. B. Qualifications; Relevant Experience The respondent must provide documentation that he/she has experience as a Solicitor as follows: 1. Three (3) letters of recommendation from public/private school districts in New Jersey. 2. Evidence of providing services as listed in the specifications to public/private school districts. 3. Copies of all professional or educational licenses that are required to perform the services as listed in the specifications. 4. List of any judgments within the last three (3) years and/or a list of bankruptcy or organization proceeding within the last ten (10) years; and 5. Other information concerning the firm and /or individuals of the firm that would assist the school district in the evaluation process. 6. Availability of personnel, facilities, equipment and other resources to provide the services requested. 7. A minimum of five (5) years' experience representing New Jersey School districts as a school attorney. 8. License to practice law in New Jersey. 9. Demonstrated experience in school law and knowledge of Title 18A (including student disciplinary laws, residency laws, school board powers and duties), Open Public Meeting Act, Open Public Records Act, Civil Service Laws, Public School Contract Act and Public School Property Act; experience in Commissioner matters before Office of Administrative Law. 10. Personal and professional integrity. 11. Strong oral and written communications skills. 12. Strong technology literacy. 2. Cost Criteria Fee Proposal The proposal should include a schedule of potential fees charged to the district. Expenses: Additional The selected law firm agrees that it is responsible for all additional expenses including travel, meals, postage, photocopying, fax transmissions, courier services, online research, filing and recording incurred in the rendering of services for this RFP. Contract Expenses Respondents are to note the following as it pertains to expenses related to the contract: 1. Expenses; Related to Contract: Incidental a. All incidental expenses related to this contract, incurred by the respondent to whom the contract is awarded, shall be the responsibility of the respondent. The Board will not reimburse any vendor for any incidental expenses related to the contract. 2. Expenses Not Related to the Contract: District Procedures a. There may be a circumstance where a request is made for the respondent to provide services not directly related to the contract. These services not related to the contract are not to be provided by the respondent. The district will procure these services separately. 3. Extraordinary Expenses a. Extraordinary expenses to be incurred by the respondent in the performance of his/her duties may be brought to the Board prior to the actual expenditure. The board, upon recommendation of the appropriate administrator, may consider reimbursing the expense, or the Board may procure the services separately. E. EVALUATION PROCESS: METHODOLOGY OF AWARDING CONTRACT All RFP responses are to be evaluated on the basis of whose response is the most advantageous to the district, price and other factors considered, and whose response will provide the highest quality of service at fair and competitive prices. The Little Egg Harbor Board of Education will use a one hundred (100) point system in evaluating all proposals. The criteria to be evaluated are identified below: Category Value Points I. Management Criteria 40 A. Business Management B. Qualifications & experience of agency C. Responsiveness and completeness of the proposal. II. Technical Criteria 40 A. Description of services III. Cost Criteria 20 A. Fee Proposal F. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS -- Evaluation Committee All proposals will be evaluated pursuant to guidance issued in N.J.A.C. 5:34-4.2 Model Evaluation Criteria and in accordance with guidance issued Office of State Comptroller's publication Best Practices for Awarding Services Contracts The committee will be familiar with the need for the services to be performed in the request for proposals. Carl Morelli, will review and evaluate all proposals as they pertain to the procurement process. G. AWARD OF CONTRACT It is the intention of the Board of Education to award the contract to the respondent whose response is the most advantageous to the Board, price and other factors considered; and who will provide the highest quality service at fair and competitive prices. It is the intention of the Board of Education to award the contract for Board Solicitor at the November 18, 2025 regular, public Board meeting. Other Required Documents: 1. Ownership Disclosure Statement 2. Non-Collusion Affidavit 3. C. 271 Political Contribution Disclosure Form 4. Contractor/Vendor Questionnaire/Certification 5. Affirmative Action Questionnaire, Affidavit and Exhibit A 6. New Jersey Business Registration Certificate 7. Certificate of Employee Information Report 8. Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran 9. Certification of Non-Debarment (Prior to Award of Contract) Please provide one original and two copies of your proposal. H. INTERVIEW The Board of Education reserves the right to interview any or all of the applicants submitting a proposal. Although interviews may take place, the proposal should be comprehensive and complete on its face. The Board reserves the right to request clarifying information subsequent to the submission of the proposal. I. CONTRACT TERM The term of the contract for Services shall be from December 9, 2025 through June 30, 2026 and may be renewed annually. J. SUBMISSION DEADLINE The deadline to submit proposals is: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2025 @ 9:00 a.m. Sealed proposals can be mailed or delivered to the follow address: Little Egg Harbor School District Attention: Carl Morelli, Business Administrator RFP Legal Services Administrative Offices 307 Frog Pond Road Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087 K. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS The School District intends to award a professional services contract for the defined scope of work under the Fair and Open Process in accordance with NJSA 19:44A-20.4 et seq. The proposals will be evaluated by the Board of Education, Superintendent, Business Administrator and such other members of the administration as may be called upon based on their level of interaction with the District Attorney based upon information supplied by each Professional in response to this RFP and the following criteria: 1. Ability to meet all minimum qualifications. 2. Overall knowledge and familiarity with the operations of the school district. 3. Experience of the firm in providing similar services to other public bodies, with special emphasis on experience in NJ. 4. Qualifications and experience of the professional. 5. Qualifications and experience of other members of the professional's firm. 6. Interview, if conducted. 7. The fee and hourly rates proposed. L. AWARD OF CONTRACT The contract will be awarded as a professional service in accordance with NJSA 18A:18A-5(1). It is the intention of the Board of Education to award the contract based on an evaluation of relative experience, qualifications and who will provide the highest quality of service at fair and competitive prices. October 17 2025 LNYS0389016 $306.24