Bond Counsel Services

The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District is seeking bond counsel services through a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued for both general obligation debt issuance and Clean Water Fund Loan program financing. The procurement covers comprehensive legal services including preparing legal opinions, drafting documents, providing tax compliance guidance, and supporting post-issuance compliance. Respondents must demonstrate expertise in municipal bond counsel work, with specific capabilities in state and federal loan program documentation. The evaluation will be conducted on a 100-point scale, with 45% allocated to qualifications and experience, 25% to cost and insurance, 15% to client training and post-issuance support, and 15% to references. Key dates include a questions submission deadline of January 22, 2025, with responses posted by January 31, 2025, and proposal submissions due by February 5, 2025, at 5:00 pm CST. The district anticipates conducting potential interviews between February 13-19, with final selection expected by February 26, 2025, and engagement commencing on March 17, 2025.

The contract will have an initial three-year term with options for two additional one-year extensions, potentially creating a five-year total engagement. The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District plans to finance approximately $290 million in capital expenditures over 2025-2030, with 80% ($232 million) to be financed through debt, including 80% ($186 million) through State of Wisconsin Clean Water Fund loans and 20% ($46 million) through General Obligation debt. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were mentioned, respondents must provide detailed fee structures for both Clean Water Fund loans and General Obligation debt, including sample costs for $20 million scenarios. Proposals must be submitted electronically to rfp@madsewer.org, with no hard copies required. The district reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and is a federal and state tax-exempt entity. All proposal responses will be considered public record, and the district will evaluate submissions to determine the most advantageous proposal for their needs.