RFP 927026 Attorney Services – Pension Evaluation

Town of
Dr. Scott Nicol
North Branford Town Manager
Purchasing Department Michael V. Fumiatti, Sr
Purchasing
909 Foxon Road
North Branford, CT 06471
Tel: 203-484-6005
The Town of North Branford ("Town") is accepting sealed Request
for Proposals (RFP) for the following:
Request for Proposal
Project Summary
RFP Title: Attorney Services - Pension Evaluation
RFP #: 927026
Projection Description: The Town of North Branford is soliciting proposals from qualified
attorneys, law firms, pension consultants, or multidisciplinary
professional firms with demonstrated expertise in public-sector
police and municipal retirement systems.
Department: Town Manager
RFP/Advertise Date: September 6, 2026
RFP Due Date: September 23, 2026 Opening Time: 11:00 AM
Insurance Requirements: Refer to Rider 300 (This Rider is attached)
Pricing Sheet: Respondent Supplied
Responses must be submitted in the form and manner specified in this request.
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Town of North Branford
Table of Contents
Item # Cover Page
RFP Summary
Table of Contents
Instructions to Respondents
1 RFP Documents
2 Internet Access
3 Solicitation Downloads
4 Inquiries for Clarification
5 Addendum to RFP Documents
6 Contract Term
7 Insurance Requirements
8 Certification and Licenses
9 Unit Prices, Bid/RFP Quantities and Tax-Exempt Status
10 Equal Employment Opportunities
11 Alternates
12 Pricing Sheet
13 RFP Process and Submission
14 RFP Protest
15 Award of Contract
16 Execution of Contract
17 Notice to Proceed
RFP SPECIFICATIONS
Town Forms Signature Page
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INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS
1 RFP Documents -
the following documents are hereinafter collectively referred to as "RFP Documents" and each a RFP Document.
RFP Cover Sheet -Invitation with Summary This document need not be returned with your submission
Instruction to Respondents This document need not be returned with your submission
Specifications This document need not be returned with your submission
Attachment to Specifications This document need not be returned with your submission
1 Town Forms Signature Page Required with your Submission
a Certificate of Non- Arrearage
b Non-Collusion Affidavit
c Affirmative Action Statement
d Contractors Wage Certification Form N/A
e Statement of Qualifications
2 Calculation Sheet / Pricing Sheet Required with your Submission
(a) These RFP Documents include a complete set of forms.
(b) Respondent may not qualify or alter the terms of the solicitation's Bid Table. (if Applicable)
(c) Responses must be submitted through the website, no hardcopies accepted.
(d) All costs incurred in the preparation and presentation of this proposal shall be wholly absorbed by the
proposer. Any material submitted by the vendor shall become the property of the Town of North Branford
unless otherwise requested at the time of submission. Any material that is to be considered as confidential
in nature must be so marked.
2. Internet Access
(a) The Town cannot guarantee that equipment involved in RFP Submission and/or solicitation technology will
be available to provide information or receive transmittals. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have
current information and that your Submission is received at the designated location complete and on time.
The Town is not responsible for the confidentiality of information transmitted over the Internet.
(b) Downloading solicitations of any type does not obligate the Town to send you future notifications of
solicitations or addendum updates.
(c) It is the Respondent's responsibility to update your contact information with the Purchasing Department.
3. Solicitation Downloads
(a) This document may be downloaded from our website at no cost to you. If you require a third party
to print the specifications and/or drawings, that cost will be borne by you.
(b) Drawing File Format: PDF
(c) Click on the above link if you don't have Adobe Acrobat and you wish to view the files in PDF
format.
4. Inquiries for Clarification
(a) The Town will not respond to a Respondent's request(s) for oral interpretation and/or clarification of the
RFP Specifications for any reason.
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(b) The Town will respond to a Respondent's written request(s) for interpretation and/or clarification of the RFP
Specifications.
(1) Any written Inquiry for Clarification must be received seven (7) or more business days prior to
the RFP Opening Date and Time. Any request received by the Town after this deadline will
not be given consideration.
(2) Please do not send questions or requests for clarification in a PDF format.
(3) Every interpretation made to a Respondent will be in the form of an Addendum to the RFP
Documents.
5. Addendum to RFP Documents
(a) All Addenda to the RFP Documents shall become part of the RFP. Respondents are required to check the
Website for Addendum. Each Respondent shall be bound by such Addenda whether or not received/viewed
by the Respondent.
(b) Questions are submitted via email to Purchasing@northbranfordct.gov, please include the RFP number and
RFP Title in the subject line.
(c) Addendums regarding Inquires for Clarification will be posted on the Town website, not less than five (5)
calendar days prior to the RFP Opening Date and Time.
(d) Addendums regarding extension of time will be posted on the Town website, any time prior to the RFP
Opening Date and Time.
6. Contract Term - (See RFP Summary for applicability)
(a) The term of the contract as a result of this solicitation shall be as stated in the RFP Summary and/or the
Specifications. If there are any options to renew, all renewals will be at the sole discretion of the Town and
pursuant to the same terms and conditions.
7. Insurance Requirements - see attached Rider
(a) Insurance will be required for the entire term of the contract. COI are to be emailed to your project
contact (see award notice)
(b) Renewal Certificates of insurance should email to your project contact:
8. Certification and Licenses
(a) If the service(s) that you are providing is a service for which a certification, license or other form of
qualification is required, please provide documentation with your statement of qualifications.
9. Unit Prices, RFP Quantities and Tax-Exempt Status
(a) The Unit Prices for each of the RFP items include its pro rata share of overhead so that the sum of the
products obtained by multiplying the quantity shown for each item by the unit price represents the total RFP.
Special attention is called to this section because in the event it is necessary to revise the quantities,
increase or decrease thereof may be made without limit and adjustment and compensation shall be made
on the basis of the Unit Prices for such items.
(b) Unit Prices should not include federal excise or state sales taxes. State Sales Tax is exempt under
Connecticut General State Statute Sec. 12-412. The Town is also exempt from transportation taxes when
goods are consigned to the Town.
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(c) It is understood an agreed that the Unit Prices shall control the Contract award.
(d) The quantities noted in this RFP are approximate (estimated only for use in comparing RFPs); and that the
sums obtained by multiplying the Unit Prices by the estimated quantities, and also the Total of these sums,
are inserted for the purpose of checking this RFP and for the convenience of the Respondent. The Unit
Prices paid are for the actual ordered quantities only.
(e) Shipments should be consigned to the Town in care of the Respondent.
10. Equal Employment Opportunity
The Town will terminate any contract without accepting liability for any incomplete work if it is found that the
Contractor has violated any of the provisions of Executive Orders 11246 and 11374, Connecticut Fair
Employment Practice Act, The Town reserves the right to incorporate into the contract any additional
provisions relating to Equal Employment, including an Affirmative Action Agreement
11. Alternate RFPs
(a) No alternate RFPs will be considered unless alternate RFPs are specifically requested by the Town.
12. Pricing Sheet - (See RFP Summary for applicability)
(a) Please provide your pricing matrix on a page or section of its own. The Town of North Branford must be
readily able to discern your pricing proposal at a quick glance.
13. RFP Process and Submission
(a) RFP Process (Only Digital Responses Accepted)
(1) Early Submittal of RFPs - RFPs received prior to the advertised hour of opening will be securely kept
sealed and unopened.
(2) RFP Opening - At the time and place fixed for the opening of RFPs, the Town will open and publicly
read aloud the name of every RFP respondent that received is by the submission deadline.
Respondents and other interested parties may be present, in person or by representative.
(3) Late Submittals - with the advent of complete digital bidding, no response will be accepted after the
closing date and time
(4) Withdrawal of RFPs - - Response may be withdrawn by you prior to the RFP Closing Date and Time by
you retracting your digital submission.
(5) RFP Rejections - The Town reserves the right to reject any and all RFPs which do not meet the
requirements of a lowest qualified responsible Respondent. Some reasons for rejection include but are
not limited to: altered or qualified Calculation Sheet, a non-Web based Calculation Sheet, non-
conforming Bid Bonds, incomplete or erroneous paperwork, late RFP Submission, Unbalanced High or
Low Unit Pricing, and/or not habitually performing with the Respondent's own forces.
(6) RFP Rejection Notification - Should the Town reject an RFP for any reason, the Respondent shall be
notified. In case of such rejection, the Town will return any Bonds to the Respondent(s). No other part
of an RFP Submission will be returned.
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(b) RFP Submission
(1) Electronic Submissions- (Preferred)
Follow instruction on the website for submission - all required forms are indicated as such.
(2) An RFP must be submitted in a digital format through the procurement website. All blank spaces must
be filled in as noted. RFP responses must give the prices in numerical figures when requested.
(3) The Respondent shall sign their RFP in the blank space provided for this purpose. If the RFP is made
by a partnership or corporation, the name and address of the partnership or corporation shall be
indicated and the RFP Submission and must be acknowledged by a corporate officer as applicable. Any
partner of corporate stockholder owning 25% or more of the business shall also be disclosed.
(4) The Town may consider any RFP not prepared and submitted in accordance with the provisions hereof,
and may, at its option, waive any informalities.
(5) No Respondent may withdraw an RFP within one hundred twenty (120) days after the actual date of the
opening thereof.
14. RFP Protest
(a) Any RFP protest must be submitted in writing. Respondents may file a written protest of the RFP results
with the Town's Purchasing Agent, within 48 hours of the posting of the RFP results on the Town
Website.
(b) A protest must be submitted via email, purchasingassistant@townofnorthbranfordct.com, or Fax, 203-
484-6025.
(c) The Town will acknowledge receipt of written protest. If the Purchasing Assistant or representative has
not acknowledged receipt of the protest by the close of business on the following day, please contact
the Town Managers Office at 203-484-6000.
15. Award of Contract
(a) The Town will endeavor to award a contract for this RFP within one hundred and twenty (120) days after
the date of the RFP opening. All Respondents acknowledge their RFP submittal will be valid for the
duration of the one hundred and twenty (120) days timeframe.
(b) The Town reserves the right to separately RFP or secure pricing from additional contractors that may
relate to the goods and/or services in the instant RFP, whether such goods and/or services are
additional to the quantities stated in the instant RFP.
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16. Execution of Contract
(a) In executing the Contract, the Awardee will be required to reaffirm and restate any and all
representations made in its RFP Submission.
(b) Subsequent to the notice of award and within ten (10) days after the prescribed forms are presented for
signature, the Awardee shall execute and deliver to the Town the Contract in the form included in the
Contract Documents, in such number of copies as the Town shall require.
(c) The failure of the Awardee to execute such Contract, pay any taxes due, to supply the required bonds
or submit the Certificate of Insurance, all within ten (10) days after the prescribed forms are presented
for signature, or within such extended period as the Town grants based upon reasons determined
sufficient by the Town, shall constitute a default and the Town reserves the right to any remedies
available at law or in equity including pursuit of RFP Bond. The Town may either award the Contract to
the next lowest responsible Respondent or re-advertise for RFPs.
(d) Performance Labor and Material Bonds - (see RFP Summary for applicability)
Having satisfied all conditions of award as set forth elsewhere in these documents, the successful
Respondent shall, within the period specified in paragraph "A" above, furnish a bond in a penal sum not
less than the amount of the Contract as awarded, as security for the faithful performance of the
Contract, and a labor and material bond for payment of all persons, firms or corporations to whom the
Contractor may become legally indebted for labor, materials, tools, equipment, or services of any nature
including utility and transportation services, employed or used by him in performing the work. Such
bonds shall be in the same form as those included in the RFP Documents and shall bear the same date,
or a date subsequent to that of the Contract. These bonds shall be signed and issued by a guaranty or
surety company satisfactory to the Town, authorized and qualified to do business in the State of
Connecticut, and listed in the latest issue of the U.S. Treasury Circular 570, and the penal sum of any
such bond shall be within the maximum specified for such company in said Circular 570. The current
power of attorney for the person who signs for any surety company shall be attached to such bonds.
17. Notice to Proceed
Once a contract is executed the Town department responsible for requesting the work will issue a
Notice to Proceed.
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
Police Pension Plan Legal and Structural Evaluation
Defined Benefit vs. Defined Contribution Plan
1. PURPOSE OF THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The Town of North Branford is soliciting proposals from qualified attorneys, law firms, pension consultants, or
multidisciplinary professional firms with demonstrated expertise in public-sector police and municipal retirement
systems.
The selected consultant will assist the Town in the negotiation and implementation of a retirement solution for its
police department. The selected consultant will conduct a comprehensive legal, regulatory, governance, and structural
evaluation of the Town's current police retirement configuration. Additionally, they will assist the negotiating
committee with the negotiation and selection of a variety of defined benefit or hybrid defined benefit/defined
contribution retirement plan.
The purpose of this RFP is not to predetermine a change in retirement benefits. Rather, the Municipality seeks
independent professional advice that will allow elected officials, pension trustees, employee representatives, and other
stakeholders to make an informed decision consistent with applicable law, fiscal responsibility, employee recruitment
and retention objectives, and long-term pension obligations.
2. BACKGROUND
The Town currently provides retirement benefits to members of its Police Department through a combination of a
defined benefit plan that closed to new entrants in 2016 and a defined contribution plan for those hired thereafter. The
Town is seeking assistance in determining how and whether to modify its current configuration, including
consideration of the following factors:
Current and projected pension liabilities;
Municipal budgetary constraints;
Required employer and employee contributions;
Investment and actuarial risks;
Transition procedures
Police-specific considerations
o Earlier retirement ages
o Disability retirements
o Overtime & extra duty compensation
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o Survivor & death benefits
Police recruitment and retention considerations;
Collective bargaining requirements;
Applicable federal and state law;
Portability
Constitutional or statutory protections applicable to pension benefits;
Administrative and governance requirements; and
Long-term obligations to current retirees, vested employees, active employees, and future employees.
The successful proposer should assume that the Town's objective is to obtain a legally defensible and practically
implementable pension strategy, rather than advocacy for either DB or DC plans.
3. SCOPE OF SERVICES
Alternative plan design
Actuarial & financial coordination
Transition analysis & procedure
Assistance negotiating plan
Counsel regarding plan alternatives
Presenting and advising results to Town Council
4. REQUIRED PROPOSAL CONTENT
Proposals shall include:
1. Cover letter;
2. Firm profile;
3. Qualifications;
4. Relevant governmental pension experience;
5. Proposed project team;
6. Resumes of key personnel;
7. References;
8. Hourly rates for additional services;
9. Disclosure of conflicts of interest; and
10. Any exceptions to the requirements of this RFP.
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5. PROPOSED TIMELINE
Milestone Date
RFP Issued September 6, 2026
Questions Due September 15, 2026
Proposals Due See cover
Evaluation By 10/05/2026
10/05/2026 -
Interviews, if required
10/16/2026
Selection 10/20/2026
Contract Approval TBD
Project
TBD
Commencement
Presentation January 2027
The Town reserves the right to modify this schedule.
6. EVALUATION CRITERIA
Proposals may be evaluated using the following criteria:
Criterion Weight
Relevant public pension experience 33%
Qualifications of assigned personnel 33%
Cost/fee proposal 33%
Total 100%
The Town reserves the right to interview selected proposers and to request clarification or additional information.
7. INDEPENDENCE AND CONFLICTS OF
INTEREST
The successful proposer must disclose all actual or potential conflicts of interest.
The proposer shall identify any representation of:
The Town;
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