Legal Services RFP

The Housing Authority of the Town of Stratford, Connecticut, a public housing entity in Fairfield County managing 301 federal housing units, 213 state housing units, and a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program serving 281 units, is seeking competitive proposals for comprehensive legal services through a Request for Proposal process. The solicitation opened on October 29, 2025, at 12:00 PM EDT and closes on November 20, 2025, at 4:00 PM EST, with all proposals required to be submitted via email to Executive Director Elizabeth Sulik by 4:00 p.m. on the due date. The scope of legal services encompasses retainer services with mandatory attendance at all regular and special board meetings (scheduled for the fourth Thursday of each month at 3:00 p.m.), representation in eviction proceedings, preparation and representation at administrative hearings, document preparation and trial preparation, court appearance services, and collection of accounts receivable from vacated tenants. Qualified proposers must hold a Connecticut bar license, demonstrate experience with Connecticut public housing authorities, possess expertise in general law and litigation, maintain knowledge of HUD and Connecticut Department of Housing regulations, and show proficiency in residential eviction proceedings, with particular emphasis on speed and expertise in evictions as critical to Authority operations. Proposals will be evaluated on a weighted basis of 45 points for qualifications and experience, 45 points for capabilities, and 10 points for price and fees, with detailed fee schedules required for all line items including retainer fees, per-action eviction fees, administrative hearing fees, hourly rates for document preparation and trial work, collection cost arrangements on a sliding scale basis, and reimbursable expense schedules. The contract term will be determined by the Authority's Board and may range from one year to five years with potential renewal options based on agreed-upon pricing.

No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions on organization types have been disclosed in the available solicitation materials. No incumbent contractor information or existing contracted vendors have been identified in the RFP documentation. The estimated total contract value has not been specified in the solicitation documents, and no budget range has been provided to guide proposers in their pricing submissions. Prospective proposers must provide evidence of good standing with the Connecticut bar, confirm they are not listed on the HUD debarred list, and comply with all state and federal requirements, including execution of required contract forms and maintenance of general liability and worker's compensation insurance with the Authority listed as additional insured. All submissions are considered public information unless proposers designate specific portions as confidential in a separate letter. Interested parties should direct inquiries to Lorraine Pascarelli at the Stratford Housing Authority, 295 Everett Street, Stratford, CT 06615, by telephone at 203-375-4483 or via email at lpascarelli@stratfordha.org.