Investment Advisory Services

The Vendor is required to provide comprehensive advisory and portfolio management services in alignment with university regulation 7-7: investment and management of university funds, applicable state and federal laws, and fiduciary standards of care.
- Responsible for investment policy compliance, liquidity and risk management, asset allocation oversight, and performance measurement against appropriate benchmarks
- Core services include managing operating funds within established guidelines, developing and implementing investment strategies, conducting ongoing market and regulatory analysis, and providing timely performance attribution and fee transparency.
- Supplier will deliver secure, technology-enabled client reporting with real-time portfolio visibility and support institutional governance through quarterly presentations, ad hoc market updates, and Board education.
- Institutional fixed income expertise, compliance infrastructure, risk management practices, team credentials, and differentiated resources or capabilities that add value to the university’s investment operations.
- Investment Management and Strategy
•    Provide continuous investment oversight with quarterly written and verbal reports summarizing key market developments, changes to state or federal regulations, their potential impacts, and recommended actions. 
•    Issue ad hoc alerts within five (5) business days of any significant event.
•    Provide liquid, short-term, and long-term investment options in alignment with university needs.
•    Deliver general strategic investment consulting services, including but not limited to cash flow analysis; risk tolerance assessment; execution of investment transactions; investment reporting; and acting as a general investment resource to the university.
•    Recommend and justify specific performance benchmarks for each asset class, compare portfolio results to these benchmarks quarterly, and provide narrative commentary on any over- or underperformance. Include analysis and benchmarking of total investment fees (including underlying manager fees) against comparable institutional portfolios.
- Reporting, Technology and Transparency
•    Provide a secure, client-specific digital portal with real-time access to portfolio allocations, transaction history, performance data, compliance alerts, and downloadable reports in .xls, .csv, and .pdf formats.
•    Propose key performance indicators (KPIS) to measure service delivery, investment performance, responsiveness, and client satisfaction.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Education
•    Attend fiscal and legal affairs committee meetings of the university’s board on a quarterly basis to present performance reports and discuss investment strategies.
•    Attend meetings, as requested by the division of budget & finance, to present research, reports, and analyses, and respond to questions.
•    Conduct at least one (1) annual in-person or virtual educational session for the board of trustees and key financial staff, addressing fiduciary responsibilities, market trends, risk management strategies, and other relevant topics.
- Collaboration and Coordination
•    Collaborate proactively with the university’s third-party safekeeping institution, external auditors, internal audit staff, and accounting team, including timely responses to audit requests and provision of supporting documentation.
- Continuity and Transition Planning
•    Maintain and communicate both a succession plan for key personnel assigned to the university’s account and a continuity plan to minimize transition risk.
•    Within 30 days of contract award, provide a detailed transition plan outlining onboarding activities, data migration timelines, account transfers, and custodian coordination to ensure minimal disruption.

- Contract Period/Term: 3 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: September 26, 2025