Notice of Request for Proposals for Bonding Consultant Services
Related to the School Construction Program

Contract Number: GP-0025-R01
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The New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation ("NJSCC"), a subsidiary of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority ("Authority"), is seeking proposals from firms interested in providing surety and performance bonding and working capital loan assistance services as a "Bonding Consultant." These services shall implement the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act ("EFCFA") Surety Bonding and Working Capital Loan Assistance Program (the "EFCFA Bonding Assistance Program" or the "Program"). The Program is being developed by the NJSCC's Office of Diversity and Emerging Business Markets in harmony with administrative rules set forth at N.J.A.C. 19:32-5.14, which were promulgated pursuant to Section 48 of the EFCFA, P.L. 2000, c. 72 (N.J.S.A. 34:1B-5.4).

The goal of the Program is to enhance the ability of minority-owned, small, and women-owned business enterprises ("MBEs," "SBEs," and "WBEs" respectively), to compete for construction contracts for School Facilities Projects by helping such firms break down historical internal and external barriers to the types of bonding and lending needed to participate in the EFCFA school construction program.

The NJSCC is seeking to obtain such services on a statewide basis. The engagement shall be for a three-year period, which may be prolonged only to the extent necessary to complete the delivery of services to any clients enrolled at that time.

A Request for Proposals ("RFP") for these services will be available for pick-up starting at 4:00 p.m., on April 17, 2003, and continuing between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the reception desk of the offices of the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation, Second Floor, 1 West State Street (the First Union Bank Building), Trenton, New Jersey 08625. The RFP, without attachment, will also be available starting on April 17, 2003, at the NJSCC website, www.njscc.com.

A mandatory pre-proposal conference for firms wishing to submit proposals is scheduled for 1 PM on Friday, April 25, 2003. The conference will be held at across the street from the NJSCC at the Mary Roebling Building, 20 West State Street - Room 221, Trenton, New Jersey 08625.

Completed RFP responses must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date of Friday, May 9, 2003. A Proposal shall consist of a Technical Proposal and a Fee Proposal, and a completed Bonding Consultant Questionnaire (form attached to the RFP). Completed Proposals may be mailed to: New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation, Attention: Sandor Havran, Project Officer, P.O. Box 991, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0991, or hand delivered to the NJSCC's offices at 1 West State Street - Second Floor, Trenton, New Jersey.

FAXED PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

PROPOSALS RECEIVED AFTER THE ABOVE DATE AND TIME WILL BE RETURNED UNOPENED.

Set Aside Requirement: The firm selected shall ensure that MBEs, SBEs, and WBEs have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of this engagement and shall make a good faith effort to achieve the NJSCC's set-aside goals of 15% SBE, 7% MBE, and 3% WBE.

Submittal Requirements: To be eligible for selection, firms must meet all requirements described in this announcement and the RFP, by the due date for submission.

Selection Process: Non-responsive proposals will be rejected without evaluation. A selection committee (the "Committee") will evaluate responsive proposals, based on the following criteria:

1. Understanding of the EFCFA Bonding Assistance Program
2. Team Experience
3. Proposed Staffing and Experience of Key Team Members
4. Approach to the EFCFA Bonding Assistance Program, including Approach to Marketing the Program

Respondents will receive a final technical ranking, based on their Technical Proposal's evaluation, except that, at its sole option, the Committee may conduct interviews. Following the interviews, if any, final technical rankings will be determined, based on the evaluation criteria. Following the final ranking, the Fee Proposals will be opened. Using the Fee Proposals as a guideline, the NJSCC will negotiate a contract with the highest-ranked firm at compensation that the NJSCC determines to be fair and reasonable. Should the NJSCC be unable to negotiate a satisfactory contract with the highest-ranked firm, the NJSCC shall terminate negotiations with the highest-ranked firm and shall then undertake negotiations with the second highest-ranked firm.

After award of contracts, all firms may request a debriefing.

The NJSCC has no obligation to make an award and reserves the right to waive any non-material defects, reject any or all proposals for any reason, or terminate the selection process at any time.

Bidders are required to comply with the requirements of P.L. 1975, c. 127 and any regulations promulgated thereunder.