County of Ocean Request for Qualifications for Bond Counsel Services - 2026
Ocean CountyCounty · NJ- Due
- Oct 22, 2026
- 5 days left
- Posted
- Oct 1, 2026
- Contract term
- 1 year
- Primary contact
- Jennifer Bowens
- (732) 929-2101
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THE 30-SECOND BRIEF
The County of Ocean Board of Commissioners is requesting qualifications from experienced legal firms to provide Bond Counsel and special legal services for a one year contract term. The successful candidate will provide legal guidance relating to public finance matters, long and short-term debt obligations, authorization and issuance of bonds, review of legal structures, preparation of notices of sale and bond purchase contracts, and compliance with federal tax code section 103. Respondents must have a minimum of two years of experience providing public finance services to New Jersey public entities and an attorney on staff familiar with federal regulations. Submissions are due by October 22, 2026, at 4:00 PM and must be submitted electronically via the County portal, with hard copies prohibited.
Qualifications of individuals and amount of participation 25%, Experience and references 25%, Understanding of Scope of Work and ability to perform 25%, Location of primary office 10%, Thoroughness and completeness of submittal 15%
SUMMARY
The County of Ocean Board of Commissioners is requesting qualifications from experienced legal firms to provide Bond Counsel and special legal services for a one year contract term.
The successful candidate will provide legal guidance relating to public finance matters, long and short-term debt obligations, authorization and issuance of bonds, review of legal structures, preparation of notices of sale and bond purchase contracts, and compliance with federal tax code section 103. Respondents must have a minimum of two years of experience providing public finance services to New Jersey public entities and an attorney on staff familiar with federal regulations. Submissions are due by October 22, 2026, at 4:00 PM and must be submitted electronically via the County portal, with hard copies prohibited.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
5- Qualifications of individuals and amount of participation 25%
- Experience and references 25%
- Understanding of Scope of Work and ability to perform 25%
- Location of primary office 10%
- Thoroughness and completeness of submittal 15%
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
6- Vendor Questionnaire
- Signature Page
- Non Collusion Certification
- Affirmative Action Questionnaire
- Statement of Ownership
- Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran
- Submit to
- https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/oceancounty/projects/301163
- Scope location
- Toms River, NJ
- Reported agency
- County of Ocean
Questions about this RFP
How do I respond to this RFQ from Ocean County?
Review the full solicitation document for submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and deadlines. The submission deadline is October 22, 2026. Be sure to include all required attachments as outlined in the solicitation. Submissions should be delivered to: https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/oceancounty/projects/301163. For questions, contact Jennifer Bowens.
Can small businesses or minority-owned firms bid on this RFQ?
Most government agencies, including Ocean County in NJ, encourage participation from small businesses, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MBE/WBE/DBE). Check the full solicitation for any small business participation goals.
What happens after the RFQ submission deadline?
After the deadline, the issuing agency reviews all submissions against the stated evaluation criteria. This typically includes a compliance check, technical evaluation, cost analysis, and may involve oral presentations with shortlisted vendors.
Can I ask questions about this solicitation before submitting?
Yes, most solicitations allow vendors to submit questions during a designated period. The primary contact is Jennifer Bowens at (732) 929-2101. Questions and answers are typically shared with all prospective bidders.
Can I search RFQs like this in ChatGPT or Claude?
Yes. Civic IQ has an MCP server that connects ChatGPT, Claude and other AI assistants to live Civic IQ data: open RFPs, pre-RFP signals from public meetings, awarded contracts and agency decision-makers across 100,000+ US public agencies. Add https://beta.mcp.civiciq.com/mcp as a connector (in ChatGPT under Settings > Apps & Connectors, in Claude under Settings > Connectors) and sign in with a free Civic IQ account at civiciq.com/mcp.
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What are the evaluation criteria for this solicitation?
This solicitation includes specific evaluation criteria that will be used to score proposals. The criteria include: "Qualifications of individuals and amount of participation 25%, Experience and references 25%, Understanding of Scope of Work and ability to perform 25%, Location of primary office 10%, Thoroughness an..." Vendors should carefully align their proposals with each criterion to maximize their score.
Where can I find more RFPs from Ocean County?
All active and historical solicitations from Ocean County are tracked and searchable. As a county agency, Ocean County regularly publishes solicitations. Visit the agency profile to see current open bids, past contracts, vendor relationships, and decision-maker contacts.
What is the contract term for this solicitation?
The anticipated contract term is 1 year. Contract terms may include renewal options.
Is this solicitation still open for submissions?
Based on the posted deadline of October 22, 2026, this solicitation appears to still be accepting submissions. Deadlines may change through amendments or addenda, so always verify the current status directly with the issuing agency before preparing your response.
What documents are required to bid on this RFQ?
Requirements vary by solicitation, but common documents include a technical proposal, cost/price proposal, proof of insurance, relevant certifications, past performance references, and any forms specified in the solicitation. This solicitation specifically requires the following attachments: Vendor Questionnaire, Signature Page, Non Collusion Certification, Affirmative Action Questionnaire, Statement of Ownership, Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran. Review the full document from Ocean County for the complete list.
What is the scope of this project?
This solicitation defines a specific project scope. The scope covers the following locations: Toms River, NJ. Review the full solicitation for detailed scope requirements.