Bond Counsel Services

Bernalillo County's Procurement and Business Services Department is soliciting proposals for Bond Counsel Services through RFP #17-26-BB, seeking a qualified legal firm to provide comprehensive professional services related to bond issuance. The selected bond counsel will be responsible for preparing bond authorizations, attending meetings and closings, assisting with official statements, and advising on tax-exempt status and securities laws for both tax-exempt and taxable bonds. The RFP encompasses potential services for general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, conduit financings, and economic development financing instruments. A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference is scheduled for September 17, 2025, at 10:00am via MS Teams, with sealed proposals due electronically through the Bonfire eProcurement system by October 10, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. local time. The evaluation process will utilize a 200-point scoring system, assessing criteria such as ability to meet service scope, company qualifications, experience, legal services, and references, with cost being a significant factor in the selection.

The county may apply various business preferences during the procurement, including state resident business, veteran business, local business, small business, and pay equity business preferences, with a total preference limitation of 18% or $180,000. The anticipated contract term is four years, with the potential for the selected firm to serve as both bond counsel and disclosure counsel if needed. Potential offerors must complete several mandatory forms, including a Campaign Contribution Disclosure Form and an Unfair Business Practices Disclosure Form, demonstrating the county's commitment to ethical and transparent procurement practices. Firms must register on the Bonfire platform to access and submit RFP documents, with a recommended minimum of 24 hours for submission preparation. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the services and the multi-year contract suggest a substantial engagement for the selected legal firm, with the ultimate contract award subject to approval by the Bernalillo County Commission.