County of Ocean Special Conflict/Litigation Counsel Services RFQ 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 is requesting qualifications from experienced law firms and attorneys to provide Special Conflict/Litigation Counsel Services on a when-and-as-needed basis for a one-year contract term. The successful vendor will represent the County in instances where the Office of County Counsel has a conflict of interest, scheduling conflict, or specialized matter, including State and Federal Civil Rights actions, 42 U.S.C. 1983 claims, NJLAD claims, CEPA claims, ADA matters, FMLA/NJFLA, Tort Claims Act litigation, workers' compensation matters, administrative law, mediation, arbitration, trials, and appeals. Proposers must demonstrate a minimum of ten years of experience representing and defending governmental entities in New Jersey. Submissions are due electronically via OpenGov by October 22, 2026, at 4:00 PM. Evaluation criteria emphasize individual qualifications and participation (30%), relevant experience and references (30%), scope understanding and timeliness (20%), office location (10%), and submittal completeness (10%).
Qualifications of the individuals who will perform the tasks and the amounts of their respective participation, 30%; Experience in providing the services requested by the County and references related thereto, 30%; A statement of the proposer's understanding of the Scope of Work and ability to perform tasks in a timely fashion, 20%; Location of primary office in relation to County administrative offices, 10%; Thoroughness and completeness of submittal, 10%
SUMMARY
The County of Ocean is requesting qualifications from experienced law firms and attorneys to provide Special Conflict/Litigation Counsel Services on a when-and-as-needed basis for a one-year contract term.
The successful vendor will represent the County in instances where the Office of County Counsel has a conflict of interest, scheduling conflict, or specialized matter, including State and Federal Civil Rights actions, 42 U.S.C. 1983 claims, NJLAD claims, CEPA claims, ADA matters, FMLA/NJFLA, Tort Claims Act litigation, workers' compensation matters, administrative law, mediation, arbitration, trials, and appeals. Proposers must demonstrate a minimum of ten years of experience representing and defending governmental entities in New Jersey. Submissions are due electronically via OpenGov by October 22, 2026, at 4:00 PM. Evaluation criteria emphasize individual qualifications and participation (30%), relevant experience and references (30%), scope understanding and timeliness (20%), office location (10%), and submittal completeness (10%).
EVALUATION CRITERIA
5- Qualifications of the individuals who will perform the tasks and the amounts of their respective participation, 30%
- Experience in providing the services requested by the County and references related thereto, 30%
- A statement of the proposer's understanding of the Scope of Work and ability to perform tasks in a timely fashion, 20%
- Location of primary office in relation to County administrative offices, 10%
- Thoroughness and completeness of submittal, 10%
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
10- Certificate of Insurance
- Certificate of Good Standing
- Professional references
- Fee Schedule
- 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/302958
- 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/302958. 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 the individuals who will perform the tasks and the amounts of their respective participation, 30%; Experience in providing the services requested by the County and references related..." 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: Certificate of Insurance, Certificate of Good Standing, professional references, Fee Schedule, Vendor Questionnaire, Signature Page, Non Collusion Certification, Affirmative Action Questionnaire, Stat. 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.