Bond counsel

The Township of Toms River, located in Ocean County, New Jersey, is seeking qualified bond counsel services through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ #PROPOSAL-2026-106) issued on November 13, 2025, with proposals due on December 2, 2025, at 10:00 am via the township's OpenGov Bid Portal. The procurement seeks legal representation for municipal bond-related services, including bond sales, ordinance preparation, and temporary financing. Proposed bond counsel will be responsible for providing comprehensive legal support for municipal financial transactions, with an established fee structure of $3,500.00 plus $1.00 per thousand dollars of bonds issued for each bond sale. Evaluation criteria will focus on vendor qualifications, experience, reputation, staffing, financial stability, and responsiveness to specifications. The contract will be awarded for a twelve-month period, with an anticipated award date of December 10, 2025, and the township reserves the right to award the contract to one or multiple vendors based on the most advantageous proposal.

The RFQ does not specifically mention set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The contract will be open-ended, with funds encumbered each time services are requested and subject to budget availability. Additional services beyond the specified scope will be charged at hourly rates for attorneys and paralegals, with minimum fees established for various transaction types. While no incumbent vendors are identified in the documentation, the township will likely consider vendors with extensive experience in municipal bond counsel services. The potential award value is not explicitly stated, but the fee structure suggests a flexible compensation model based on the volume and complexity of bond-related legal work. Interested vendors should demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of municipal finance law and the ability to provide timely, accurate legal guidance for the township's financial transactions.