Investment Advisory Services

The City of Cincinnati, located in Hamilton County, Ohio, is seeking a qualified Investment Advisory Services consultant through a competitive Request for Qualifications (RFQ265X901147) to assist the Finance Department and City Treasurer with managing its comprehensive investment program. The selected investment advisor will be responsible for providing sophisticated financial guidance for a portfolio valued at approximately $1.5 billion, including conducting initial and annual portfolio reviews, analyzing investment options and market conditions, assisting with investment manager selection and due diligence, monitoring manager performance, and providing quarterly and annual performance analyses. Key deliverables include attending investment committee meetings, preparing specialized financial analyses, and offering strategic recommendations aligned with the city's investment policy. The RFQ evaluation criteria will assess offerors across six dimensions: qualifications of key personnel (20%), compliance with industry standards (20%), local government experience (20%), content and completeness (20%), cost and budget (10%), and value-added services (10%). Important dates include a January 27, 2026 deadline for written questions and a proposal submission deadline of February 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET through the City's Bonfire electronic portal, with a proposed contract term of three 12-month periods and optional two 12-month renewals.

Prospective offerors must be licensed and registered with the State of Ohio Division of Securities and the SEC, with proof of registration required at submission. The contract has no specific set-aside designations for minority or women-owned businesses, with MBE and WBE subcontracting goals both set at 0%. Offerors must maintain professional liability insurance with minimum coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 in aggregate. Currently, the city utilizes two professional investment firms managing approximately $500 million of the total portfolio. The consultant's fee structure should be independent of portfolio size and activity levels, with options for retainer or per-project fees. Proposal submissions must include a comprehensive statement of qualifications, investment policy certification, evidence of SEC and state registration, three client references (with local government experience preferred), sample performance reports, and various required forms including corporate information, affidavit of accuracy, equal employment opportunity documentation, and economic inclusion materials. While a specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the total portfolio value of $1.5 billion suggests a significant potential engagement for the selected investment advisory firm.