RFI-2605AM Investment Advisory Services

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) has issued a Request for Information (RFI-2605AM) soliciting qualified full-service investment advisory firms to provide information regarding their capabilities, service models, pricing approaches, and relevant experience. This RFI is issued for informational purposes only and does not constitute a commitment to issue a Request for Proposal, award a contract, or commit the organization to procure services. The procurement seeks advisory services encompassing long-range planning for cash management, liquidity, and investment program structure; review and enhancement of investment policies; development of investment strategies aligned with policy constraints; establishment of broker/dealer guidelines; identification of liquid versus core funds; guidance on performance benchmarking; and ongoing market and portfolio monitoring with monthly reporting of yields, diversification, and performance. Minimum qualifications for respondents include SEC registration as an Investment Advisor, registration to conduct business in Georgia, complete independence from financial institutions and securities brokerages (or full disclosure of relationships), minimum five years of experience managing governmental operating funds or construction bond proceeds, and minimum $10 billion in assets under ongoing management. Respondents must address firm qualifications and experience, advisory approach and methodology, technology and integration capabilities, administrative and service model, and pricing structures. RFI submissions must be received digitally by May 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST through Euna Procurement at https://gwinnett.bonfirehub.com. Questions regarding the RFI must be submitted via the Message Center no later than May 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST.

The RFI document does not establish any set-aside designations, restrictions on organization types, incumbent vendors, or budget ranges. However, GCPS has established comprehensive investment policies and procedures that govern the district's cash management and investment operations, limiting authorized investments to instruments defined by Georgia Code Sections 36-83-4, 36-80-3, and 36-82-7, including U.S. government obligations, FDIC-insured certificates of deposit, Federal agency obligations, the Georgia local government investment pool, and prime bankers' acceptances, while explicitly prohibiting mutual funds (except Treasury Money Market funds for bond proceeds), asset-backed securities, structured securities, and derivatives. The district's investment program prioritizes safety of principal as the foremost objective, followed by maintaining sufficient liquidity to meet operating requirements and attaining a market rate of return benchmarked against the Georgia Fund I annual return. Portfolio diversification limits are established by instrument type, maturity schedule (not exceeding three years except for sixty-day repurchase agreements), and financial institution (maximum 50% per counterparty). Typical pricing structures that advisory firms may propose include flat annual fees, asset-based fees in basis points, hourly rates, hybrid fee models, project-based pricing, and subscription or platform fees, though specific award values and budget ranges are not disclosed in the solicitation materials.