Third Party Elevator Inspections

The City of Newark, New Jersey is soliciting proposals under RFP 2026-23 for third-party elevator inspection services, with responses due at 2:00 p.m. on November 24, 2026, through the City's OpenGov e-Procurement Portal. Bidders must be agencies currently authorized by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs under N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.14 to operate as Private On-Site Inspection Agencies for Elevator Subcode enforcement, and proposers must provide proof of that authorization.

The awardee supplies on-call inspectors who work under the guidance of the City Construction Code Official, with a minimum staffing of one Elevator Sub-Code Official and not fewer than two full-time elevator inspectors assigned to Newark. The work covers an estimated 3,000 units (2,320 traction elevators, 580 hydraulic elevators, and 50 escalators) on annual, biennial, five-year, and as-needed inspection cycles under New Jersey State regulations. The agency bills all inspection fees and submits monthly invoices. Compensation is fee-for-service, combining hourly personnel rates, elevator inspection fees as a percentage of fees under N.J.A.C. 5:23-12.6, an administrative fee percentage for the City, and hourly rates for unlisted services. Re-inspections and after-hours inspections are billed separately. The initial term is three years, with the City holding an option to extend up to two one-year renewals, for a maximum of five years. Required insurance includes General Liability of at least $1 million per occurrence and $2 million general aggregate, and Automotive Liability with $1 million limits for bodily injury and property damage. Performance bonds and bid guarantees are waived, and prevailing wage requirements do not apply.

Evaluation rests on ten criteria: the inspection services narrative, company background and experience, personnel qualifications, billing criteria and administrative fee percentages, municipalities served, assigned personnel, prior experience, management and technical personnel qualifications, inspection response times, and company location. Proposals must include references from at least three entities, a complete roster of technical and field personnel, office location and hours, plan review arrangements, response time guarantees, and emergency response procedures.

Questions are due November 4, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Vendors must also complete pre-award certifications covering Iran investment disclosure under Public Law 2012, c. 25, federal non-debarment, Russia and Belarus prohibited-activity noninvolvement against the OFAC list, and IRS Form W-9.