RFP No. 27-0011 Public Employee Retirement Systems Pension and Benefit Trust Fund Investment Consult

Columbus Consolidated Government, Georgia, on behalf of its Pension Fund Board of Trustees, is soliciting proposals under RFP No. 27-0011 for investment consulting, custodial, and fiduciary services for the Public Employee Retirement Systems Pension and Benefit Trust Fund, with proposals due December 9, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. The consultant must maintain a full-service home office or branch in Columbus, Georgia, which functions as a local-presence requirement. Proposals must be submitted electronically via OpenBids, and no public opening will be held.

The Fund administers four plans (Major Disability Income, Death Benefit, General Government, and Public Safety) with assets exceeding $475 million as of June 30, 2019. The consultant must attend all Pension Board and sub-committee meetings and demonstrate experience servicing similar municipal pension plans. Proposers must demonstrate E-Verify compliance, provide proof of insurance with minimum limits of $1 million general liability and $1 million professional liability, and submit a notarized E-Verify affidavit as a mandatory requirement. The source states that Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and minority-owned businesses are afforded full opportunity to submit proposals without discrimination.

The contract runs five years, from April 1, 2027 through March 31, 2032, with automatic annual renewal upon Board approval. Either party may terminate with 90 days' written notice.

Evaluation weights are firm stability and general experience (20%), depth and experience of personnel (30%), performance reporting (5%), investment manager recommendation and management (15%), research and analytics (15%), and fees (15%). Proposers must submit their own fee structure options, including both flat fee and basis point arrangements with full disclosure of embedded costs, although the RFP states that specific pricing terms are not part of the selection criteria. The evaluation committee's review typically takes about three months before a recommendation goes to Columbus City Council for final approval.