Municipal Advisory Services

The City of Cincinnati is seeking a qualified municipal advisory firm to provide comprehensive advisory services for its bond issuance program. The advisor will act as an independent contractor, supporting the City’s debt policy compliance, debt‑capacity modeling, financing strategy, rating agency coordination, and post‑issuance analysis. Services are required on an “as‑requested” basis for a base term of five years with two optional one‑year renewals, and the firm must be capable of handling General Obligation, Economic Development, Water Works, Parking, and Stormwater bonds, as well as special projects that may arise. The City will evaluate proposals on qualifications, Ohio presence, cost‑reduction examples, and fee structure, with an annual retainer and transaction‑based fees. • Provide debt‑capacity forecasting, debt policy updates, and compliance monitoring. • Advise on issuance structures, pricing, and market timing for new and refunding bonds. • Prepare rating agency presentations, council briefings, and post‑sale memoranda. • Offer special‑project support (e.g., alternative financing, community‑development funding). • Maintain a forecasting tool that both the City and advisor can update. • Term: 5 years + up to two 1‑year renewals; optional special‑project work as needed. • Evaluation weighted on qualifications (50 %), Ohio presence (10 %), cost‑reduction examples (20 %), and fee structure (20 %).