Pool municipal public defenders

The Township of Toms River is requesting qualifications from vendors to provide part-time municipal public defender services for conflict representation in municipal court, with responses due June 23, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. through the OpenGov Bid Portal. The Township intends to award contracts to up to three qualified vendors; each court session will utilize two of the awarded firms, with schedules determined by the Township Court Administrator.

Bidders must submit qualifications including names and professional experience of assigned individuals, professional licenses and certifications, educational background, professional references with contact information, and descriptions of available support staff. All assigned personnel must hold current New Jersey attorney licenses and meet statutory requirements for municipal court practice.

The fixed rate is $350.00 per court session, not to exceed $50,000 annually per public defender. The contract term is twelve consecutive months commencing from the date of award, with funds encumbered contingent upon availability in the municipal budget. The anticipated award date is July 8, 2026.

Insurance requirements include comprehensive general liability with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, comprehensive automobile liability with identical limits, professional liability insurance with the same minimums, and worker's compensation insurance with statutory New Jersey coverage. Vendors must comply with New Jersey statutory requirements including affirmative action/equal employment opportunity certifications, statement of ownership disclosure, non-collusion affidavits, business registration certificates, and certifications regarding prohibited activities in Russia, Belarus, and Iran.

Selection will be based on qualifications of assigned personnel, experience and reputation, ability to perform timely, resource availability, financial stability, cost considerations, and responsiveness to specifications. The Township is exempt from sales and use taxes.