RFSQ - SENIOR AND CO-MANAGER UNDERWRITER SERVICES

The County of San Diego is seeking Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from firms interested in providing qualified pool of underwriters - senior and co-manager underwriter services ("Offerors").

Offerors found to be qualified as a result of this RFSQ ("Qualified") will be placed on a standing list of Qualified firms for an anticipated duration of **five (5) year(s)**. Qualified firms on the standing list will be eligible to participate in subsequent Requests for Bids (RFB), Requests for Proposals (RFP), or Request for Quotes (RFQ) for the duration of the standing list. [...]

The County anticipates awarding up to eight (8) contracts in total after a second step in the process. Four (4) contracts for Senior Manager underwriter services and four (4) contracts for Co-Manager Underwriter services.

Contractor shall serve as the County's Senior Managing Underwriter and/or Co‑Manager, as designated, to support the planning, structuring, marketing, pricing, sale, purchase, and closing of County financings. Covered instruments include short‑term and interim obligations (e.g., Tax and Revenue Anticipation Notes (TRANs)), long‑term obligations (e.g., Certificates of Participation (COPs), Lease Revenue Bonds (LRBs), General Obligation bonds (GOs) and Community Facilities District bonds (CFDs), Commercial Paper programs, and other County‑directed instruments. Services will be performed on an as‑needed basis and coordinated with County staff, the municipal advisor, bond/disclosure counsel, trustee, and other members of the financing team.

Contractor shall participate in financing‑team meetings; perform research and quantitative analysis; advise on pricing implications and credit enhancement; prepare and update a written pre‑sale analysis (recommended sizing, timing, maturities, and call features) based on then‑current market conditions; develop and assist in executing a marketing plan; prepare materials and presentations for the Debt Advisory Committee, financing corporation, rating agencies, and investors; conduct a pre‑pricing call one (1) business day before sale; purchase Bonds/Notes in accordance with governing resolutions, the Official Statement, and legal documents; obtain CUSIP numbers; coordinate closing; and deliver a post‑sale analysis (debt service schedule/TIC, orders and allotments, comparables, market context, investor allocations). Contractor shall provide ongoing market updates and education and perform other related underwriting services as reasonably requested, in compliance with applicable laws, MSRB/SEC rules, and County policies.

Offeror must submit a complete original SOQ in accordance with the format provided in this solicitation to the County of San Diego, Department of Purchasing and Contracting, through **electronic upload to BuyNet** before the Date and Time listed in Schedule. [...] Offerors must select "Participate in RFx" for this solicitation in BuyNet.

Submit electronic SOQs as files in .pdf format, except where specified otherwise. [...] All SOQs shall be signed with a handwritten signature by an authorized officer or employee of the Offeror. Electronic or digital signatures will not be accepted.

Offeror's response to these Submittal Items shall be no more than twenty (20) pages, excluding financial and confidential information provided in Exhibit 5.

**Mandatory** minimum requirements for eligibility are included in the evaluation criteria. Failure to satisfy these mandatory minimum requirements will be considered disqualifying.

Pricing will not be evaluated as part of this qualifications-based selection process. Pricing will be evaluated in a subsequent 2nd step procurement phase.

*PC600*, *PC601* are **required** for all Offerors.