2026 RFP for Public Relations Consultant

MOUNT HOLLY TOWNSHIP
BURLINGTON COUNTY
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS/
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANT
PLEASE BE ADVISED that the Township of Mount Holly will accept proposals for Public
Relations Consultant on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the Township of Mount Holly
Municipal Building located at 23 Washington Street, Mount Holly, NJ 08060.
To obtain a copy of the RFP packet, contact Township Clerk, Sherry Marnell at 23 Washington
Street, Mount Holly, New Jersey 08060, via email at smarnell@twp.mountholly.nj.us or visit our
website at www.twp.mountholly.nj.us. All proposals submitted to the Township must be
submitted pursuant to the said RFP packet.
Contractors are required to comply with the requirements of P.L. 1975, c. 127 (N.J.A.C. 17:27)
and N.J.S.A. 10:5-31.
Contractors are required to comply with the requirements of P.L. 1999, c. 238, where applicable.
All RFP Addenda will be issued on the website. Therefore, all interested respondents should
check the website from now through the RFP opening. It is the sole responsibility of the
respondent to be knowledgeable of all addenda related to the procurement. Respondents shall
comply with the said requirements within the RFP.
Please submit one (1) original, one (1) unbound copy and one (1) electronic copy on a CD or
USB drive in a sealed envelope marked "Submission of RFP for Public Relations Consultant"
clearly marked on the outside.
Sherry Marnell
Township Clerk
Mount Holly Township
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Township of Mount Holly
23 Washington Street
Mount Holly, New Jersey 08060
The Township of Mount Holly desires to hire a consultant to provide public relations services.
Duties to include but not limited to working with administration to moderate website and social
media posts, produce press releases, attend special events, produce Township newsletter, etc.
Contract term will be for one (1) year from the contract date.
REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:
Must have at least five (5) years' experience in the profession, including exposure to issues likely
to be of assistance in serving as a Public Relations Consultant; must have the ability to attend
meetings of the Township when necessary; must have sufficient support to provide all services
required by the Township. Must list past and public entities represented as Public Relations
Consultant. Must provide other factors if demonstrated to be in the best interest of the
Township.
Requests for these forms should be made to the Township Clerk, Sherry Marnell, 23 Washington
Street, Mount Holly, New Jersey 08060, at (609) 845-1101.
THIS PROPOSAL IS BEING SOLICITED THROUGH A FAIR AND OPEN PROCESS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH N.J.S.A. 19:44-20.5 et seq.
REQUESTS FOR QUALIFICATIONS/PROPOSALS
Purpose and Scope of Work:
The following process is designed to find qualified service providers in a fair and open manner
for the provision of professional or other service contracts based on qualifications, merit and cost
effectiveness. The general requirements set forth below must be met in order for any proposer to
be considered to provide such services, exempt from public bidding pursuant to N.J.S.A 40A:
11-5 and within the scope of N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5 et seq., to the Township.
Response to the Request for Proposals (RFP) shall be used to determine which proposers meet or
exceed the minimum qualifications for the position and offer the municipality quality
professional or other exempt services best meeting the needs of the Township.
Response to the Request for Proposal (RFP) shall be used to determine whether the costs or fees
proposed to provide the services are fair and reasonable, both in terms of the Township's
budgetary interest, the general market rate for the requested services, and the level of experience,
breadth of services, and expertise of the proposer.
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Submissions:
Submission shall address how the proposer meets the qualifications for the desired position and
shall outline fees proposed, fee schedule (including attendance at regular monthly or special
meetings, if necessary), or other basis for compensation sought. Please, where applicable,
indicate hourly rates, monthly or other retainers, per project fees, or such other manner of
compensation proposer deems appropriate to the services to be provided.
1. Submissions must be sent by mail or delivery service to the Acting Township
Clerk, Sherry Marnell; Please submit (1) original, one (1) unbound copy and one
(1) electronic copy on a CD or USB drive in a sealed envelope marked
"Submission of Qualifications/Proposal for {Name of Position}" clearly marked
on the outside. Submissions may NOT be sent by fax, or transmitted over the
telephone.
2. Submissions must be received no later than May 7, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Late
submissions will not be accepted or considered. The Township assumes no
responsibility for submissions misdirected in delivery or delayed in transmission.
3. The Township reserves the right to conduct an interview or interviews with the
proposer to discuss the scope of the project as outlined in its proposal.
4. If awarded a contract, your company/firm shall be required to comply with the
requirements of (N.J.S.A. 10:5-31) et seq. and (N.J.A.C. 17:27) Affirmative
Action, (N.J.A.C. 52:25-24.2) Statement of Ownership, and (N.J.S.A. 52:32-44)
New Jersey Business Registration and Disclosure of Investments with Iran (Public
Law 2012, c. 25).
5. Proof of insurance for professional liability/malpractice coverage with limits as to
liability acceptable to the Township will be required prior to the award of any
contract.
6. All awards are subject to availability of funds. Acceptance of a contract will be
by Resolution acted on by the Township Council at a Township Council meeting.
7. The Township will not guarantee any minimum level of activity or business.
By submitting a proposal, the proposer agrees and understands that the Township reserves the
right and may exercise at its sole discretion the following rights and options with respect to this
RFQ/RFP:
To accept or reject any or all proposals;
To amend this RFQ/RFP;
To issue additional solicitations for proposals;
To waive any irregularities in proposals should it be in the best interest of the Township;
To enter into an agreement for only portions (or not enter into an agreement for any) of
the services contemplated by the proposals;
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To select the proposal that best satisfies the interests of the Township and not necessarily
on the basis of price or any other single factor.
Evaluation:
The following criteria, not necessarily listed in the order of importance, will be used to review
the responses/proposals. Points shall be awarded based on the information contained in each
response/proposal for each category as listed below on a scale of 1-10 with 10 meeting all
required criteria and 1 not meeting the required criteria. The highest total score shall be the basis
for the award of the contract.
EVALUATION CRITERIA SCORE/
POINTS
TECHNICAL CRITERIA:
Vendor's response/proposal demonstrates a clear understanding of the scope of
work and related objectives
Vendor's response/proposal is complete and responsive to the technical RFP
requirements
Vendor evidences successful past performance of other like projects
MANGEMENT CRITERIA:
History and experience in performing similar work
Availability of personnel, facilities, equipment, etc.
Qualification and experience of support personnel
Comprehensive work plan and schedule
Significant experience in application, processing, report auditing and
exercising federal, state and local grant matters
Proof of licensure
COST CRITERIA:
Cost of goods/services provided
Quality and quantity of vendor's services to previous clientele
Vendor's financial ability to meet obligations
POINT TOTALS
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PROPOSAL FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANT
RESPONDENT'S NAME: ________________________________________________
RESPONDENT'S ADDRESS: ________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
TELEPHONE NO. ______________________ FAX NO.________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS ________________________________________________
FEDERAL TAX ID NO. ________________________________________________
Please explain how you or your firm meets the minimum requirements.
(Attach additional sheets, if necessary.)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
[Please outline your fees proposed, fee schedule, etc. Please, where applicable, indicate hourly
rates, monthly or other retainers, per project fees, or such other manner of compensation you
deem appropriate to the services to be provided.]
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MOUNT HOLLY TOWNSHIP
BURLINGTON COUNTY
MANDATORY EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY LANGUAGE
N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq. (Pl. 1975, C. 127)
N.J.A.C. 17:27
GOODS, PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND GENERAL SERVICE CONTRACTS
During, the performance of this contract, the contractor agrees as follows:
The contractor or subcontractor, where applicable, will not discriminate against any
employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, creed, color, national origin,
ancestry, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,
disability, nationality or sex. Except with respect to affectional or sexual orientation and
gender identity or expression, the contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that such
applicants are recruited and employed, and that employees are treated during employment,
without regard to their age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status,
affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality or sex.
Such action shall include, but not be limited to the following: employment, upgrading,
demotion, or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination; rates of
pay or other terms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship. The
contractor agrees to post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for
employment, notices to be provided by the Public Agency Compliance Officer setting forth
provisions of this nondiscrimination clause.
The contractor or subcontractor, where applicable will, in all solicitations or advertisements for
employees placed by or on behalf of the contractor, state that all qualified applicants will receive
consideration for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry,
marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability,
nationality or sex.
The contractor or subcontractor, where applicable, will send to each labor union or
representative or workers with which it has a collective bargaining agreement or other contract
or understanding, a notice, to he provided by the agency contracting officer advising the labor
union or workers' representative of the contractor's commitments under this act and shall post
copies of the notice in conspicuous places available to employees and applicants for
employment.
The contractor or subcontractor, where applicable, agrees to comply with any regulations
promulgated by the Treasurer pursuant to N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq., as amended and
supplemented from time to time and the American with Disabilities Act.
The contractor or subcontractor agrees to make. good faith efforts to employ minority and
women workers consistent with the applicable county employment goals established in
accordance with N.J.A.C. 17:27-5.2, or a binding determination of the applicable county
employment goals determined by the Division, pursuant to N.J.A.C. I7:27-5.2.
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The contractor or subcontractor agrees to inform in writing its appropriate recruitment agencies
including, but not limited to, employment agencies, placement bureaus, colleges, universities,
labor unions, that it does not discriminate on the basis of age, creed, color, national origin,
ancestry, marital status affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability,
nationality or sex, and that it will discontinue use of any recruitment agency which engages in
direct or indirect discriminatory practices.
The contract or subcontractor agrees to revise any of its testing procedures, if necessary, to assure
that all personnel testing conforms with the principles of job-related testing, as established by the
statutes and court decisions of the State of New Jersey and as established by applicable Federal
law and applicable Federal court decisions.
In conforming with the applicable employment goals, the contractor or subcontractor agrees to
review all procedures relating to transfer, upgrading, downgrading and layoff to ensure that all
such actions are taken without regard to age, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status,
affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, nationality or sex,
consistent with the statutes and court decisions of the State of New Jersey, and applicable Federal
law and applicable Federal court decisions.
The contractor shall submit to the public agency, after notification of award but prior to
execution of a goods and services contract, one of the following three documents:
1. Letter of Federal Affirmative Action
2. Certificate of Employee Information Report
3. Employee Information Report Form AA302
The contractor and its subcontractors shall furnish such reports or other documents to the
Division of Contract Compliance & EEO as may be requested by the office from time to time in
order to carry out the purposes of these regulations, and public agencies shall furnish such
information as may be requested by the Division of Contract Compliance & EEO for conducting
a compliance investigation pursuant to Subchapter 10 of the Administrative Code at N.J.A.C.
17:27.
______________________________________ ___________________
Signature Date
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AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990
Equal Opportunity for Individuals with Disability
The contractor and the Township of Mount Holly, (hereafter "owner") do hereby agree that the
provisions of Title 11 of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (the "Act") (42 U.S.C. S121 01
et seq.), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public entities in all services,
programs, and activities provided or made available by public entities, and the rules and regulations
promulgated pursuant there unto, are made a part of this contract. In providing any aid, benefit, or
service on behalf of the owner pursuant to this contract, the contractor agrees that the performance
shall be in strict compliance with the Act. In the event that the contractor, its agents, servants,
employees, or subcontractors violate or are alleged to have violated the Act during the performance
of this contract, the contractor shall defend the owner in any action or administrative proceeding
commenced pursuant to this Act. The contractor shall indemnify, protect, and save harmless the
owner, its agents, servants, and employees from and against any and all suits, claims, losses,
demands, or damages, of whatever kind or nature arising out of or claimed to arise out of the alleged
violation. The contractor shall, at its own expense, appear, defend, and pay any and all charges for
legal services and any and all costs and other expenses arising from such action or administrative
proceeding or incurred in connection therewith. In any and all complaints brought pursuant to the
owner's grievance procedure, the contractor agrees to abide by any decision of the owner which is
rendered pursuant to said grievance procedure. If any action or administrative proceeding results in
an award of damages against the owner, or if the owner incurs any expense to cure a violation of the
ADA which has been brought pursuant to its grievance procedure, the contractor shall satisfy and
discharge the same at its own expense.
The owner shall, as soon as practicable after a claim has been made against it, give written notice
thereof to the contractor along with full and complete particulars of the claim, If any action or
administrative proceeding is brought against the owner or any of its agents, servants, and employees,
the owner shall expeditiously forward or have forwarded to the contractor every demand, complaint,
notice, summons, pleading, or other process received by the owner or its representatives.
It is expressly agreed and understood that any approval by the owner of the services provided by the
contractor pursuant to this contract will not relieve the contractor of the obligation to comply with
the Act and to defend, indemnify, protect, and save harmless the owner pursuant to this paragraph.
It is further agreed and understood that the owner assumes no obligation to indemnify or save
harmless the contractor, its agents, servants, employees and subcontractors for any claim which may
arise out of their performance of this Agreement. Furthermore, the contractor expressly understands
and agrees that the provisions of this indemnification clause shall in no way limit the contractor's
obligations assumed in this Agreement, nor shall they be construed to relieve the contractor from any
liability, nor preclude the owner from taking any other actions available to it under any other
provisions of the Agreement or otherwise at law.
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Representative's Name/Title
(Print): ______________________________________________________________________
Representative's
Signature: ____________________________________________________________________
Name of
Company:
_____________________________________________________________________
Telephone No.:
_________________________________________________________________
Date: ________________________________
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TOWNSHIP OF MOUNT HOLLY
INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
FORM
Certificate(s) of Insurance shall be filed with the Township Clerk's Office upon award of
contract by the Township Council.
The minimum amount of insurance to be carried by the selected Professional Service Entity shall
be as follows:
Professional Liability Insurance
Limits shall be a minimum of $1,000,000.00 for each claim and $1,000,000.00 aggregate each
policy period.
*Vendor / Firm shall not commence operations until Township has been furnished original certificate(s) of Insurance and
certified original copies of endorsements or policies of insurance in the amounts and/or minimum coverage(s) required in this
proposal.
Acknowledgement of Insurance Requirement:
________________________________________ ____________________________________
(Signature) (Date)
(Printed Name and Title)
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