LEG A L DIVISIONS
Standard Human Services Contract
Working with the Deputy Mayor for Health
and Human Services, the Mayor’s Of?ce
of Contract Services, and the City’s social
services agencies, Division attorneys
developed the City’s ?rst standard human
services contract, which is now used by all
City agencies. The contract standardizes
critical terms governing the provision of
client services by the City’s contractors,
which often have contracts with multiple City
agencies. It thus provides certainty to the
City and its contractors and improves the
ef?ciency of the procurement system for
social services.
PHOTO: “JANE’S CAROUSEL,” BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK
Snow Emergency Preparation
Division attorneys helped the Deputy Mayor
for Operations and the City Department of
Sanitation to optimize a menu of methods
for mobilizing contractors during snow
emergencies, including developing a variety
of new standby contracts for various zones
throughout the City. The contracts and
methods provide a balance of public and
private resources to be used to clear streets
during snowstorms.
CONTRACTS &
REAL ESTATE
CHIEF Steven Stein Cushman
DEPUTY Howard Friedman
The Contracts & Real Estate Division counsels City agencies
on transactional matters, such as leases and contracts, and
acts as transactional counsel on special projects at the request
of the Mayor’s Office and City agencies. Attorneys not only
negotiate and draft contracts, but also approve City transactional
documents and advise on processes that must be followed to enter
into such agreements.
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Harlem Children’s Zone Promise
Academy Charter School
Working with the Deputy Mayor for Education
and Community Development, the City
Department of Transportation, and the
City Housing Authority, Division attorneys
negotiated agreements facilitating the
development of the Harlem Children’s Zone
Promise Academy Charter School. The project
involved funding for, and the transfer of
property to, the Charter School—as well as
the mapping and construction of a City street.
Tavern on the Green
Under the direction of the First Deputy Mayor,
Division attorneys worked closely with the
City’s Department of Parks & Recreation
and Department of Design and Construction
to prepare for the restoration of the Tavern
on the Green building to its original design
and to solicit a concessionaire to operate a
restaurant in the building once it is restored.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Carousel
In conjunction with the Mayor’s Of?ce and the
Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, Division
attorneys negotiated and drafted agreements
for the donation, installation, and operation
of “Jane’s Carousel,” a restored, historic
carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
PR ACTICE SPOTLIGHT
Best Value Procurement of Goods
and Standard Services
Division attorneys worked closely with
the Mayor’s Of?ce and the City’s Of?ce
of State Legislative Affairs on the State
Legislature’s passage of amendments
to State law allowing for the purchases
of goods and standard services to be
based on “best value” to the City rather
than simply the lowest price. The Division
has also been working with the Mayor’s
Of?ce of Contract Services to implement
the new law, including the drafting
of amendments to the Procurement
Policy Board Rules and guidance to City
procurement of?cials.
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