26-115 RFP for Defense of Workers Compensation Claims 2026

CITY OF CLIFTON
DEPARTMENT OF PURCHASING
26-115 - DEFENSE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS
AGAINST THE CITY OF CLIFTON
2026-2027

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR FAIR AND OPEN PROPOSAL
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.4 et seq, the City of Clifton is soliciting a Fair and Open
Proposal for Workers' Compensation Counsel for the contract period of one (1) year from the
date of contract award. Proposals shall be endorsed "Workers' Compensation Defense Counsel
Services" and delivered to Purchasing Agent Amisha Jariwala, City of Clifton, 900 Clifton
Avenue, Clifton, New Jersey 07013.
Due Date: April 30, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.

-1-
CITY OF CLIFTON
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
DEFENSE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS
AGAINST THE CITY OF CLIFTON
The City of Clifton is soliciting a Request for Proposal ("RFP") to provide Workers'
Compensation Defense Counsel Services to the City, as directed by the Municipal Attorney or
his designee, for a contract period one year from the date of award. All candidates are required
to comply with N.J.S.A. 10:5-31, et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27 as amended (Affirmative Action).
1. GENERAL
It is the intent of this Request for Proposals (RFP) to obtain from interested and qualified
legal firms specializing in Workers' Compensation that specializes in the representation
of management, a price proposal for consulting, defending and litigating workers'
compensation matters and representing the City before the State of New Jersey, Workers'
Compensation Court, including any Appeals, which shall include fulfilling all reporting
requirements; conducting investigations and arranging IME's by the third party
administrator. The Respondent should be aware of the fact that the City of Clifton is a
civil service municipality and, therefore, the provisions of Title 11A of the New Jersey
Statutes do apply to personnel matters within the City.
The City of Clifton has approximately 735 employees. In 2021 there were 114 worker's
compensation claims, 16 of which resulted in claim petitions filed. In 2022 there were
111 worker's compensation claims, 5 of which resulted in claim petitions filed. In 2023
there were 130 worker's compensation claims, 17 of which resulted in claims petitions
filed. In 2024 there were 108 worker's compensation claims, 15 of which resulted in
claims petitions filed. In 2025 there were 113 worker's compensation claims, 10 of which
resulted in claims petitions filed.
It shall be the Respondent's responsibility to advise the Purchasing Agent (in writing) of
any language or requirement that inadvertently restricts or limits the requirements stated
in the RFP to a single source.
All questions relating to the RFP shall be in writing to Purchasing Agent Amisha Jariwala
ajariwala@cliftonnj.org no later than ten (10) days prior to the deadline for receipt of
proposals. Any questions, which in the opinion of the City warrant a return reply or an
amendment to the RFP, will be furnished to all parties not less than five (5) days prior to
receipt of Proposals.

-2-
1. SCOPE OF SERVICES
Proposals must be made on the basis that it either meets or exceeds the requirements
contained herein. All Respondents must be capable of performing the above services and
providing general advice, assistance and representation to the Mayor and Municipal
Council, City Manager, Municipal Attorney and Personnel Officer regarding workers'
compensation matters, including but not limited to, consulting, defending and litigating
workers' compensation matters and representing the City before the State of New Jersey,
Workers' Compensation Court, including any appeals which shall include fulfilling all
reporting requirements; conducting investigations and arranging IME's by the third party
administrator.
2. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Listed below are the minimum requirements necessary to be considered for this proposal:
1. At a minimum, the Respondent shall have ten (10) consecutive years experience
as workers' compensation counsel, representing management.
2. The Respondent must currently represent at least three (3) public entities in areas
of workers' compensation law.
3. The Respondent must also demonstrate a consistent pattern of successfully
managing workers' compensation matters before the Courts.
4. The Respondent must maintain an office within a reasonable distance to the City
of Clifton.
5. The Respondent must display a high degree of knowledge of the applicable
workers' compensation laws.
6. The Respondent must have a sufficient staff to perform the services set forth in
Scope of Services in this RFP.
7. The Respondent must not have represented or is not currently representing a client
whose interests are adverse to that of the City of Clifton, thereby creating a
conflict of interest. The period of time covered by this restriction is five years
prior to the date of the proposal submitted in response to this RFP.

-3-
8. The Respondent must maintain professional liability insurance in the minimum
amount of One Million Dollars per occurrence (1 million aggregate).
3. PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS
The Respondent:
1. Shall provide Name, Federal I.D. number, address, phone and fax numbers of
firm submitting the proposal and a brief description of legal background such as
years in business, size of staff and any affiliations.
2. Shall provide Name, title and address of principal/individual preparing this
response and the contact person for the RFP.
3. Shall provide Name, title, address and phone number of individual(s) to be
assigned as the Labor and Employment Counsel for the City.
4. Shall describe the professional achievements of the firm and the principal who
would be assigned to the City of Clifton as its account consultant such as
educational background, licenses, number of clients handled and number of years
as a workers' compensation Attorney. Resumes or summarized credentials may
be attached.
5. Shall provide a list of New Jersey public sector entities for which the firm has
provided similar services to those contained herein, including name, title and
phone number of the appropriate contact person within the entity.
6. All respondents must be employees or owners of the firm.
7. Proposed fees and hourly rates.
8. The Respondent may submit any supplemental information it deems important to
the evaluation of his proposal and the reason why it should be considered in the
overall evaluation of the proposal.
4. COMPENSATION
1. Payment to the successful Respondent shall be a flat fee, half of which is payable
upon receipt of the file, to cover 1 calendar year; a flat fee payable for each
calendar year thereafter that the file remains open; an hourly rate for all trial work
involving the initiation of testimony and for any 2nd Injury fund matter.

-4-
2. All expenses and fees other than compensation as set forth above shall be actual
out of pocket expenses incurred by consultant without any additions for overhead,
etc. No additional charges will be billed for fax transmissions and copy costs will
be billed at no more than 15 cents per page.
3. The Firm's fees shall be paid after receipt of a proper invoice and executed
payment voucher.
4. Hourly rates for paralegal services are not permitted.
5. The Firm shall not accept any compensation for related City activities from any
source other than the fee paid by the City of Clifton
5. CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. The term of this agreement is to be a period from award of contract period of one
(1) year from the date of contract award.
2. Respondent's proposal shall remain valid for a period of ninety (90) days after
submission and will be considered as a binding offer to perform the required
services.
3. Respondents shall comply with all Local, State and Federal directives, orders and
laws as applicable to this proposal.
4. The successful Respondent shall not assign or transfer this agreement to any other
person or company without prior consent and approval in writing from the City of
Clifton.
5. Only one (1) proposal from the same Firm will be considered. A Respondent
submitting more than one (1) proposal will cause the rejection of all the proposals
of said consultant. If there is a reason for believing that collusion exists among
Respondents, those proposals shall be rejected and participants shall not be
considered for any future proposal submissions.
6. All proposals and documents submitted to the City of Clifton in response to this
RFP shall become the property of the City of Clifton and are subject to the open
public records act of the State of New Jersey, after contract is awarded.
7. Be advised that the City of Clifton may secure background information based
upon the references provided in this RFP.

-5-
The following forms shall be submitted with Proposal:
1. Affirmative Action Employee Information Report or Certificate of Employee Information
Report.
2. Acknowledgement of Receipt of Addenda (if applicable).
3. Non-Collusion Affidavit.
4. Prohibited Activities in Iran.
5. Stockholder Disclosure Certification.
6. Business Entity Disclosure Certification.
7. Proposal Form.
8. New Jersey Business Registration Certificate.
9. IRS W-9 Form.
10. Data Form.
11. Pay to Play Advisory Form
Note: Failure to submit any one of the items may cause for rejection
6. PROPOSAL EVALUATION
1 . GENERAL
1. Responsiveness to the scope of services.
2. Organization of Proposal
2 . PERSONNEL
1. Experience and qualifications of principal assigned to this project and of the
firm's principals.
3 . EXPERIENCE AND SERVICES OF FIRM
1. History and experience with similar types of government entities.
2. Favorable references from public sector clients for which similar services have
been provided.
3. Reputation in the legal community in representing employers in worker's
compensation matters.
4 . TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
1. Knowledge and skill in areas of worker's compensation law.
5. HOURLY RATES
7. COMMUNICATION SKILLS

-6-
1. Ability to work and communicate effectively with City of Clifton staff,
Management personnel, and any others as may be necessary.
8. SUBMISSION DATE
Proposals shall be received by the Purchasing Agent on April 30, 2026 by 11:00 a.m.
Respondents are to submit Two (2) copies: (1) bound copy and (1) un-bound copy.
9. AWARD OF CONTRACT
A final award shall be made by resolution adopted by a majority of the Mayor and
Council based upon the proposal made to the City that has been determined to be the most
advantageous to the City, price, and all other factors advantageous considered. The City
further reserves the right to conduct an interview or interview with the prospective
proposer to discuss the scope of the services as outlined in the proposer's proposal. All
awards are and shall be subject to the availability of funds. The City of Clifton in its sole
discretion and reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive any or all
irregularities as are in the best interest of the City. Any questions regarding the scope of
the proposal, please contact Thomas M. Egan, Esq., Municipal Attorney, City of Clifton
at 973-470-5818.

-7-
CITY OF CLIFTON
PROPOSAL FORM
WORKERS' COMPENSATION DEFENSE COUNSEL
Name: _______________________________________________________________
Signature: ____________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Phone: _________________________ Fax: _________________________________
Respondents hereby propose the following rates:
1. A $_____________________ flat fee, half of which is payable upon receipt of the file, to
cover 1
calendar year.
2. A $_____________________ flat fee, payable for each calendar year thereafter that the
file remains
open.
3. A _____________________ hourly rate for all trial work involving the initiation of
testimony for any 2nd Injury Fund matter.
4. A $ _____________________ hourly rate for scheduling of IME's.

-8-
STATUTORY AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
A. Mandatory Affirmative Action Certification
No firm may be issued a contract unless it complies with the affirmative action regulations of
N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et. seq. (P.L. 1975, c 127).
1. Procurement, Professional and Service Contracts
All Successful vendors must submit, within seven days after receipt of the notice of intent to
award the contract or the receipt of the contract, one of the following:
i. A photocopy of a valid letter for an approved Federal Affirmative Action Plan (good for
one year from the date of the letter), or
ii. A photocopy of an approved Certificate of Employee Information Report, or
iii. If the vendor has none of the above, the public agency is required to provide the vendor
with an initial Affirmative Action Employee Information Report (AA-302).
B. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Discrimination on the basis of disability in contracting for the purchase of bids and services is
prohibited. The successful Respondent is required to read Americans with Disabilities language
that is part of this specification and agrees that the provisions of Title II of the Act are made a
part of the contract. The successful Respondent is obligated to comply with the Act and to hold
the City of Clifton harmless.
C. Stockholder Disclosure
Chapter 33 of the Public Laws of 1977 provides that no corporation or partnership shall be
awarded any contract for the performance of any work or the furnishing of any materials or
supplies, unless, prior to the receipt of the bid or accompanying the bid of said corporation or
partnership, there is submitted a statement setting forth the names and addresses of all
stockholders in the corporation or partnership who own ten percent or more of its stock of any
class, or of all individual partners in the partnership who own a ten percent or greater interest
therein. Form of Statement shall be completed and attached to the bid proposal.