Financial Advisory Services

The vendor is required to provide financial advisor shall not advocate for, or represent the interests of, any individual participating entity and all services provided are intended to support the deliberative and evaluative work of the south county higher education task force and do not constitute recommendations, commitments, or obligations by the city or any participating entity.
- Requirement:
1. Financial review and due diligence
•    Evaluating all financial models, feasibility studies, and participation scenarios presented through the task force process. 
•    Validating assumptions, inputs, and methodologies used by task force consultants or higher education partners. 
•    Conducting sensitivity and risk analyses related to enrollment, project phasing, construction costs, revenue generation, and economic conditions. 
•    Identifying potential fiscal risks, obligations, or exposure associated with task force proposals and preparing written analyses summarizing strengths, weaknesses, and long-term implications for participating entities. 
•    Reviewing proposed land valuation methodologies and evaluating financial implications of city owned land participation.
2. Participation scenario analysis
•    Preparing pro-forma models illustrating multiple potential city or other participating entity participation pathways (e.g., land lease, infrastructure support, capital contributions, operational responsibilities)
•    Quantifying short- and long-term fiscal impacts associated with potential municipal participation, including impacts to operating funds, reserves, cash flow, and long-term financial planning. 
•    Assessing potential obligations such as infrastructure investment, revenue-sharing arrangements, ongoing operating support, and/or development of partnerships. 
•    Participation scenarios shall include, at a minimum:
o    Full state participation
o    Partial state participation
o    Delayed state participation
o    No state capital participation
3. Funding mechanisms and financing options
•    Reviewing funding structures proposed during the task force process, including state appropriations, institutional contributions, federal and state grants, philanthropic partnerships, p3 arrangements, special assessment financing, lease-leaseback structures and similar mechanisms. 
•    Identifying and evaluating potential municipal funding sources, including those applicable to the city, with respect to eligibility, risk exposure, match requirements, and long-term implications. 
•    Evaluating infrastructure financing strategies that may be considered as part of task force proposals (e.g., bonds, special funding districts, development impact fees, financing mechanisms available within a university innovation district). 
•    Identifying participation thresholds and sustainability considerations relevant to municipal participation, informed by generally accepted fiscal best practices and applicable local fiscal policies.
4. Comparative and market analysis
•    Review best practices and comparable university district and innovation campus models within state and nationally. 
•    Identify lessons learned regarding financial structure, municipal participation, risk allocation, governance approaches, and revenue generation. 
•    Benchmark proposed task force participation models against peer jurisdictions and industry norms.
5. Strategic advisory support
•    Providing technical financial support to members of the task force. 
•    Preparing financial briefings, memoranda, presentations, and analytical materials to support task force discussions and related briefings, as requested. 
•    Advising on financial considerations associated with participation structures, governance frameworks, and negotiation concepts presented through the task force process.
•    Developing guiding financial principles to inform task force evaluation of proposed concepts and scenarios. 
•    Providing background financial analysis in advance of key task force or stakeholder meetings. 
•    Advising on the development of a formal academic partner university participation agreement or memoranda of understanding.
6. Monitoring opportunities and financial environment
•    Monitor and identify relevant state, federal, philanthropic, and institutional funding opportunities that may support the feasibility of concepts under consideration by the task force, including eligibility criteria, constraints and timing considerations. 
•    Track economic, enrollment, development, and higher education market trends that could impact task force proposals or recommendations.
7. Reporting and ongoing support
•    Regular updates summarizing task force financial developments, risks, opportunities, and recommendations. 
•    Attendance at task force meetings and related coordination meetings, as requested. 
•    As-needed financial analysis in response to revised models, new proposals, or evolving task force work.