Investment Management Services

West Basin Municipal Water District, a public agency serving 17 cities and approximately one million people in the coastal Los Angeles area, is soliciting proposals for comprehensive Investment Management Services to manage its investment portfolio currently valued at approximately $77 million. The primary objectives are to maximize rate of return while minimizing losses, with key responsibilities including daily portfolio management pursuant to the District's Investment Policy, research and recommendations for security purchases and sales, monthly and quarterly reporting with market-to-market valuations and performance metrics aligned with CFA Institute Global Investment Performance Standards, benchmark review and tracking, minimum two in-person presentations to the Board of Directors annually, annual investment policy reviews, custodial bank evaluation support, and annual interest income projections. The Request for Proposal was issued on March 13, 2026, with questions and clarifications due March 23, 2026 at 2:00 pm and proposals due March 31, 2026 at 2:00 pm; candidate interviews and presentations are scheduled for the week of April 13-24, 2026, with notice of recommended award anticipated the week of May 4-8, 2026 and Board recommendation on May 19, 2026. Proposals must remain valid for a minimum of 90 days from the submission deadline. Pricing proposals should be itemized by task, including monthly statements, quarterly statements, and annual statements, with West Basin retaining the option to accept the proposal as submitted or use it as a basis for negotiation. Evaluation will be conducted by a selection panel using technical criteria including proposal completeness and quality, respondent qualifications and experience, professional qualifications of key personnel, technical approach and methodology, references, insurance compliance, and willingness to provide financial information.

Qualified firms must maintain commercial general liability insurance of $2,000,000, business automobile liability of $2,000,000, workers' compensation of $1,000,000, and professional liability of $2,000,000, with West Basin named as an additional insured. Small and Local Business Enterprise incentive points are available, offering three additional points for SBE or LBE prime consultants, six points if both designations apply, and one point for subcontractors meeting at least 30 percent compensation thresholds; price proposals for SBE or LBE firms receive a 3 percent reduction in evaluation, or 6 percent if both designations apply, though the actual contract amount reflects the original proposal if selected. Short-listed respondents are required to participate in interviews and presentations, and contract award is subject to West Basin Board of Directors approval. The contract will be structured on a time-and-material basis with compensation rates specified in the executed agreement, subject to a defined maximum contract value. The District retains the right to terminate the agreement at any time without cause and maintains audit rights for three years following contract completion, with all work products, reports, and digital files becoming the property of West Basin.