104-24 Resolution Authorizing Award of the Contract for Economic Development Counsultant - 2024.pdf

104-24 March 26, 2024 RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the Township of West Orange (the “Township”) is seeking to retain the services of a professional consultant to provide Economic Development Consulting and Support services supporting programs that market and promote the Township as a competitive meeting, and leisure destination, and as a strategic location for business and investment by promoting business retention and expansion, supporting redevelopment, promoting new marketing and research that strengthens and broadens commercial, retail, and tourism sectors; and WHEREAS, the proposed services also include the assessment of existing business conditions and inventory, environment and challenges, and providing assistance to the appropriate Township partners with implementing recommendations; and WHEREAS, the services of an Economic Development Consultant require the use of a licensed and nationally certified Planner with expressed educational requirements, the award of a contract for an Economic Development Consultant would otherwise be exempt from public bidding under the Local Public Contracts Law (the “LPCL”) as a professional service; and WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1(i) of the LPCL, contracting units are authorized to utilize competitive contracting for the procurement of goods or services that would otherwise be exempt from bidding WHEREAS, on October 24, 2023, the Township Council adopted Resolution #369-23 authorizing the use of competitive contracting in lieu of public bidding pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11- 4.3 for the procurement of the Contract for an Economic Development Consultant; and WHEREAS, on January 19, 2024, the Township issued a Request for Proposals for to award a Contract for an Economic Development Consultant (the “RFP”); and WHEREAS, on February 14, 2024, the Township received only one (1) proposal in response to the RFP from Nishuane Group, LLC (“Nishuane”) with offices at 105 Grove Street, Suite 4, Montclair, NJ 07042; and