BOROUGH OF NEW PROVIDENCE
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
FOR THE PROVISION OF
PROFESSIONAL PLANNING SERVICES
ISSUE DATE: February 11, 2026
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: March 10, 2026
ADDRESS ALL QUALIFICATION STATEMENTS TO:
OFFICE OF THE BOROUGH CLERK
Municipal Building
360 Elkwood Avenue
NEW PROVIDENCE, NEW JERSEY 07974
GENERAL INFORMATION & SUMMARY
ORGANIZATION REQUESTING QUALIFICATIONS
BOROUGH OF NEW PROVIDENCE
360 ELKWOOD AVENUE
NEW PROVIDENCE, NEW JERSEY 07974
CONTACT PERSON
BERNADETTE CUCCARO, ADMINISTRATOR
908-665-1400
PURPOSE OF REQUEST
The BOROUGH OF NEW PROVIDENCE (the "BOROUGH") is soliciting Qualification
Statements from interested persons and/or firms for the provision of professional planning
services for calendar year 2026 with possible one year extensions through 2028, as more
particularly described herein. Through a Request for Qualification process described herein,
persons and/or firms interested in assisting the BOROUGH with the provision of such services
must prepare and submit a Qualification Statement in accordance with the procedure and
schedule in this RFQ. The BOROUGH will review Qualification Statements only from those
persons and/or firms that submit a Qualification Statement which includes all the information
required to be included as described herein, as determined in the sole and absolute discretion of
the BOROUGH. The BOROUGH intends to qualify persons and/or firms that (a) possess the
professional, financial and administrative capabilities to provide the proposed services, and (b)
will agree to work under the compensation terms and conditions determined by the BOROUGH
to provide the greatest benefit to the taxpayers of New Providence. The services of successful
Respondents may be procured as soon as April 1, 2026
DEFINED TERMS
The following definitions shall apply to and are used in this Request for Qualifications:
"BOROUGH" - refers to the BOROUGH OF NEW PROVIDENCE.
"Qualification Statement" - refers to the complete responses to this RFQ submitted by the
Respondents.
"Qualified Respondent" - refers to a Respondent who (in the sole and absolute discretion of
the BOROUGH) has satisfied the qualification criteria set forth in this RFQ.
"RFQ" - refers to this Request for Qualifications, including any amendments thereof or
supplements thereto.
"Respondent" or "Respondents" - refers to the interested persons and/or firm(s) that submit a
Qualification Statement.
CONTRACT FORM
If selected, a respondent shall be required to execute the BOROUGH's form contract,
which includes, among other things, indemnification, insurance, termination and licensing
provisions. A complete copy of a draft BOROUGH form contract is available upon request.
It is also agreed and understood that the acceptance of the final payment by a vendor shall
be considered a release in full of all claims against the BOROUGH arising out of, or by reason
of, the work done and materials furnished under the contract.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE QUALIFICATION STATEMENTS
FOR LEGAL AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
1. BOROUGH OF NEW PROVIDENCE FACTS AND FIGURES – The BOROUGH
OF NEW PROVIDENCE is a legal, governmental entity. The BOROUGH was incorporated in
1899 and operates under N.J.S.A 40A:60-1, et seq., the borough form of government. The
BOROUGH is governed by a mayor and borough council. The Borough Council sets policy,
adopts the operating and capital budgets for the BOROUGH, enacts ordinances and sets the
direction of how the BOROUGH OF NEW PROVIDENCE will provide government services.
The Mayor is elected and is the chief executive. The Borough Administrator carries out the
policies adopted by the Mayor and Borough Council.
The BOROUGH's population is approximately 13,650 and it consists of approximately
4 square miles of area. The BOROUGH provides a full range of municipal services.
The BOROUGH's operating budget is approximately $27 million.
2. NATURE/ SCOPE OF SERVICES – The BOROUGH hereby solicits Qualification
Statements from Respondents that have expertise in providing the professional planning services,
including without limitation consultations with and advice to the Borough Council, Planning
Board and Board of Adjustment, assistance in preparation of zoning ordinances and the Master
Plan of the Borough and expert testimony as needed. Respondents must demonstrate that they
satisfy all professional requirements and will have the continuing capabilities to perform these
services.
3. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS – Respondents must have a minimum of ten (10)
years of experience in the practice of Professional Planner. Each Qualification Statement must
clearly indicate the position(s) sought. Respondents should submit a Qualification Statement
that contains the following:
A. The name of the Respondent, the principal place of business and, if different, the
place where the services will be provided;
B. A description of Respondent's overall experience in providing the type of services
sought in the RFQ At a minimum, the following information on past experience
should be included as appropriate to the RFQ: (i) description and scope of work
by Respondent; (ii) explanation of perceived relevance of the experience to the
RFQ; and (iii) the education, qualifications, experience, and training of all persons
who would be assigned to provide services along with their names and titles;
C. A narrative statement of the Respondent understanding of the BOROUGH's needs
and goals;
D. A listing of all other engagements where services of the types being proposed
were provided in the past five (5) years. This should include other municipal
governments and other levels of government. Contact information for the
recipients of the similar services must be provided. The BOROUGH may obtain
references from any of the parties listed;
E. A listing of all immediate relatives of the principal(s) of Respondent who are
BOROUGH employees or elected officials of the BOROUGH. For purposes of
the above, "immediate relative" means a spouse, parent, stepparent, brother, sister,
child, stepchild, direct-line aunt or uncle, grandparent, grandchild, and in-laws;
• A statement that neither the firm nor any individuals assigned to this
engagement are suspended, or otherwise prohibited from professional practice
by any federal, state, or local agency;
• An Affirmative Action Statement (sample language attached);
• A completed Non-Collusion Affidavit (copy of form attached);
• A completed Owner Disclosure Information form (copy of form attached);
• A statement that the Respondent will comply with the General Terms and
Conditions required by the BOROUGH and enter into the BOROUGH's
standard Professional Services Contract;
• A copy of the Respondent's Business Registration Certification; and
• A completed Disclosure Statement (copy of form attached).
4. COST PROPOSAL – Respondents should submit a cost proposal that would include
attendance at up to 24 Planning Board and Board of Adjustment meetings per year, as directed
by the Director of Planning and Development, any proposed retainer for services beyond
attendance at the meetings, and the services to be provided for the retainer. In addition, provide
a list of hourly rates for all members of your firm that would provide services to the Borough.
The BOROUGH does not provide payment for time required to travel to/from borough meetings
or other travel expenses.
5. EVALUATION – The BOROUGH has structured a procurement process that seeks to
obtain the desired results described herein, while establishing a competitive process to assure that
each person and/or firm is provided an equal opportunity to submit a Qualification Statement in
response to the RFQ. The BOROUGH will select the most advantageous proposal(s), if any and
as determined in its sole and absolute discretion, based on all of the evaluation factors set forth at
the end of this RFQ. The BOROUGH will make the award(s), if any, that is in the best interest of
the BOROUGH.
Qualification Statements will be reviewed and evaluated by the BOROUGH and its
planning, engineering, legal and/or financial advisors (collectively, the "Review Team"). The
Qualification Statements will be reviewed to determine if the Respondent has met the minimum
professional, administrative and financial areas and other requirements described in this RFQ.
Each Respondent must satisfy the objectives and requirements detailed in this RFQ. The
successful Respondent shall be determined by an evaluation of the total content of the
Qualification Statement submitted. Under no circumstances will a member of the Review Team
review responses to an RFQ for an appointment that he/she or his/her firm submitted a response.
Based upon the totality of the information contained in the Qualification Statement, including
information about the reputation and experience of each Respondent, the BOROUGH will (in its
sole and absolute discretion) determine which Respondents are qualified from a professional,
administrative and financial perspective. Each Respondent that meets the requirements of the
RFQ (determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the BOROUGH) will be designated as a
Qualified Respondent and may then be given an opportunity to provide services to the
BOROUGH.
The RFQ process commences with the issuance of this RFQ. It is anticipated that certain
Qualified Respondents will be selected to begin providing services to the BOROUGH as soon as
April 1, 2026. There can be no assurance, however, that any Qualified Respondent will be
selected.
All communications concerning this RFQ or the RFQ process shall be directed, in writing,
to the BOROUGH's designated contact person:
Bernadette Cuccaro, Borough Administrator
BOROUGH OF NEW PROVIDENCE
360 Elkwood Avenue, New Providence, New Jersey 07974
6. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS – The BOROUGH reserves the right to:
a. Not select any of the proposals;
b. Select only portions of a particular Respondent's proposal for further
consideration (however, Respondents may specify portions of a proposal that they
consider "bundled");
c. To supplement, amend or otherwise modify the RFQ through issuance of addenda
to all prospective Respondents who have received a copy of this RFQ;
d. To change or alter the schedule for any events called for in this RFQ upon the
issuance of notice to all prospective Respondents who have received a copy of
this RFQ;
e. To conduct investigations of any or all of the Respondents, as the BOROUGH
deems necessary or convenient, to clarify the information provided as part of the
Qualification Statement and to request additional information to support the
information included in any Qualification Statement; and
f. To suspend or terminate the procurement process described in this RFQ at any
time (in its sole and absolute discretion). If terminated, the BOROUGH may
determine to commence a new procurement process or exercise any other rights
provided under applicable law without any obligation to the Respondents.
The BOROUGH shall be under no obligation to complete all or any portion of the
procurement process described in this RFQ.
This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.