Consulting Services for HUD Programs

The City of Newark, New Jersey (Essex County) is seeking qualified consulting firms through Request for Proposal 2026-RFP-001 to provide professional consulting services for HUD program compliance and grant management. The selected consultant will support the City's administration of four federal grant programs: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA). Key deliverables include preparation and submission of Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Reports (CAPERs) for fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027; preparation of Annual Action Plans for fiscal years 2026 and 2027; resolution and closure of outstanding HUD CAPERs and monitoring findings; preparation of environmental reviews for City projects; and ongoing grants compliance and management assistance. The contract term is 24 consecutive months commencing upon full execution, with an anticipated start date of May 1, 2026. Proposers must submit a flat-rate fee not to exceed $80,000, inclusive of all projected costs with detailed breakdown and completion schedule, and bear responsibility for all incidental expenses including travel, lodging, and logistics. Electronic proposals must be submitted through the City's e-Procurement Portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/newarknj no later than 10:15 a.m. on Friday, March 27, 2026, with responses publicly opened and read aloud; paper and mailed applications will not be accepted. The deadline for submitting questions is March 13, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Evaluation criteria include responsiveness and completeness of the proposal; experience with HUD programs and municipal service delivery; budget and cost-effectiveness; project schedule and availability; and professional qualifications of assigned personnel, with proposers required to provide a minimum of three professional references from entities where similar services were successfully completed within the past three years.

The RFP does not identify any explicit set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises, though local vendor preferences may be applied during evaluation. No incumbent contractor information is provided in the procurement documents. All selected consultants must maintain professional liability insurance of $1,000,000, general liability insurance with limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and workers' compensation insurance at statutory limits, with the City of Newark named as an additional insured. Respondents must submit a New Jersey Business Registration Certificate, Employee Information Certificate (AA302) or federally approved Affirmative Action Plan, W-9 form, non-collusion affidavit, hold harmless agreement, and various compliance certifications including equal employment opportunity, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, Statement of Ownership Disclosure, and certifications regarding Iran investment activities and Sudan compliance. All vendors must complete a Federal Non-Debarment Certification and a Certification of Non-Involvement in Prohibited Activities pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:32-60.1, confirming their status on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list. The contract award value is capped at $80,000 for the 24-month term, with the City reserving the right to reject any and all proposals, negotiate with selected consultants on deliverables and budget, and is not obligated to accept the lowest-priced proposal.