Rfsq - senior and CO-manager underwriter services

The County of San Diego is requesting Statements of Qualifications from underwriting firms to establish a standing list for senior and co-manager underwriter services for municipal bond financings, with SOQs due November 16, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. The County anticipates awarding up to eight contracts total: four for Senior Manager underwriter services and four for Co-Manager underwriter services. Qualified firms will be placed on a five-year standing list and will be eligible to participate in subsequent Requests for Bids, Proposals, or Quotes.

Mandatory minimum qualifications include SEC net capital compliance, possession of all necessary Federal and State licenses, and full compliance with municipal securities regulations. Firms must demonstrate relevant experience within the last five years in structuring, marketing, and underwriting short-term obligations (TRANs), long-term obligations (COPs, LRBs, GOs, CFDs), and commercial paper programs in California.

The scope of work encompasses underwriting services including participation in planning meetings, market research and analysis, structuring assistance, preparation of pre-sale and post-sale analyses, marketing plan development, pre-pricing conference calls, closing coordination, and ongoing market education. Pricing will not be evaluated in this qualifications-based first step; pricing evaluation will occur in a subsequent second-step procurement phase.

SOQ responses are limited to 20 pages, excluding financial and confidential information, and must be submitted electronically through BuyNet or, if unable, by CD/DVD or printed format to the Department of Purchasing and Contracting. A pre-SOQ conference is scheduled for October 8, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. Questions are due by October 14, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. The contracting officer is Joseph Hirschy, Interim Sr. Procurement Contracting Officer. The County reserves the right to request clarifications, conduct interviews, hold discussions, and cancel the RFSQ or modify the process at its discretion.