Township of North Bergen
4233 Kennedy Boulevard
North Bergen, NJ 07047
201-392-2027

Request For Proposals
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER SERVICES
RFP #NB2012-17

Sealed Proposals must be delivered to the address stated above, prior to the time and date listed as the public opening. The RFP # and Attn: Robert J. Pittfield must be clearly written on the outside of the envelope.

Scope of Services:
Animal Control Services performed within the borders of the Township of North Bergen by NJ licensed Animal Control Officers for mainly five (5) days a week, 8:00am to 4:00pm, but also as needed on Saturday, Sunday, holidays, nights, and emergencies. Emergency services are defined as the care of injured animals, trapped animals, sick animals, animals whose lives are endangered or animals that are providing a danger to humans.  For the purposes of these services crocodiles, alligators, whales, porpoises, feral cat colonies, and dead deer are specifically excluded from the category of animals.

The services shall also include the transportation, control and sheltering of animals as needed.  The contractor shall be responsible for providing his/her own transportation for animals that are taken to a licensed and or approved shelter, or for veterinarian services.  The contractor must have an existing contract with a licensed shelter, or have an approved shelter.  Contractor shall have access to emergency veterinary services as needed.

Contractor shall issue summonses to owners when possible, for animal control violations. When called upon by the Township, contractor shall impound or attempt to impound any stray dog or cat, or any animals posing potential danger to humans or other animals.  Such animals must be humanely disposed of in accordance with New Jersey Law.  Contractor shall be responsible for rabies quarantine and compliance with those procedures.  Any services provided by the contractor for private owners shall not be paid for by the Township, but shall be subject to an agreement between those parties.

The successful candidate will be required to comply with the following insurance requirements:

a)     The Contractor shall be required to carry full insurance including comprehensive general liability; workman’s compensation insurance; which shall cover all operations of the Contractor, its employees, agents and servants hereunder, and; motor vehicle and equipment used by the Contractor in connection with the Contractor’s operations under the Contract; Contractor shall provide  professional liability (errors& omissions) insurance for claims arising from any negligent performance of contractors’ services pursuant to the agreement in the amount of $1,000,000 per claim.  Said insurance, by endorsement, shall fully protect the Township of North Bergen from liability.

b)    Certificates naming the Township of North Bergen as an additional named insured, and evidencing such insurance coverage, shall be filed with the Township Clerk prior to the commencement of operations hereunder by the Contractor.

The following Certificates of Insurance must be furnished:

• Worker’s Compensation;
• Part Two – Statutory

Comprehensive General Liability:
i.     Minimum limits: $1,000,000.00; Combined Single Limit Coverage to include: Premise / Operations; Independent Contractors; Product / Completed Operations; Contractual; Personal Injury; Broad Form Property Damage; Township of North Bergen as additional insured.

ii.     Comprehensive General Liability must be maintained for at least one year after completion of the contract and its acceptance by the Township of North Bergen.

iii.     Professional Liability Insurance (Errors & Omissions)

1.     Contractor shall provide professional liability (errors & omissions) insurance for claims arising from any negligent performance of contractors’ services pursuant to the agreement in the amount of $1,000,000 per claim.

The certificate of insurance shall designate the Township of North Bergen as an additional insured and shall contain a thirty (30) day notice of cancellation whereby the Township Clerk will be provided with a written notification of cancellation.  Said insurance must be paid for a minimum of six (6) months into the contract period at the time of the contract.

It is understood and agreed that the Contractor is an independent Contractor and not an employee of the Township of North Bergen.

The Contractor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Township of North Bergen, the Board of Commissioners of the Township of North Bergen, and all of its officers, agents and employees of and from any and all liability for damages for injury to person and property, including death and against and from all suits and actions and all costs, damages and change of whatsoever kind of nature, including attorneys’ fees to which the Township of North Bergen maybe put for or on account of any injury or alleged injury to person, including death, or property, resulting from the performance of the Contractor’s operations under this Contract, or by or in consequence of any neglect or omission on the part of the Contractor in the performance of operations under the Contract, whether such operations, or in the absence thereof, be by the Contractor or anyone directly or indirectly employed by the Contractor.

The Contractor shall hold the Township of North Bergen harmless for damages to the Contractor’s Equipment utilized during the term of this Contract.

Programs of self-insurance are not acceptable.

Proposals will be evaluated by the Township of North Bergen on the basis of the most advantageous, price and other factors considered. The evaluation will consider:

a.     New Jersey State licensure, experience, references and reputation in the field;
b.     Qualifications of the individuals who will perform the tasks outlined in the scope of services, and the degree of their respective participation;
c.     Ability to address, complete, and facilitate all items stated in the above scope of services;

d.     Knowledge of the Township of North Bergen and the candidate’s ability to provide such services in a timely manner (including staffing, familiarity and location of key staff);
e.     Availability to accommodate any required meetings of the Township and or Health Department;
f.      Compensation proposal (including proposed compensation or Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, nights and emergencies); and
g.     Other factors to be demonstrated to be in the best interest of the Township of North Bergen.

Professional information required to be submitted with proposals:

1.    Name of firm or individual.
2.    Copy of Candidate’s current contract with NJ licensed animal shelters or
qualified organization where stray animals are to be placed by candidate.

3.    Address of principal place of business and all other offices and corresponding telephone and fax numbers.
4. Names of personnel that will be assigned to perform the work outlined in the scope of services.
5. Description of candidate’s and staff’s education, experience, qualifications, number of years with the firm, and a description of their experience with providing such services for other municipalities.
6. References indicating experience with municipalities.
7. Compensation details, including the hourly rates of each of the individuals who will perform such services and the time estimates for each individual, all expenses, and where appropriate, total cost of “not to exceed” amount.
8. Any other information that the candidate deems relevant.
9. Statement of corporate ownership (c.52:25-24.2).

This contract will be awarded for a five (5) month period, beginning August 1, 2012 and ending December 31, 2012. The Township of North Bergen reserves the right to reject any and or all responses.

Please include a copy of your NJ Business Registration Certificate and documentation of required Affirmative Action. Required affirmative action documentation includes one of the following:
1)    A letter from the U.S. Department of Labor that the contractor has an existing federally approved or sanctioned Affirmative Action Program.
OR       
2)    A Certificate of Employee Information Report Approval.

OR
3)    An Affirmative Action Employee Information Report (Form AA302).

The public opening will be held in the Municipal Chambers of the Township of North Bergen located at 4233 Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen, NJ, on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 10:00am.

RFP # NB2012-17

Robert J. Pittfield
Chief Financial Officer