Municipal Advisory Services: Section 115 Pension Trust Evaluation, Strategy, and Provider Selection

The City of South San Francisco is seeking a qualified consulting firm to provide advisory services for establishing a Section 115 municipal pension trust. The scope includes evaluating trust structure options, sizing reserve requirements, developing funding methodologies, comparing single‑employer versus multiple‑employer trust risks/returns, and creating a procurement strategy for a trust provider. The consultant must be independent, free of conflicts, and, where applicable, registered with the SEC and MSRB for municipal advisory work. Deliverables include a pension reserve strategy, target funding range, contribution methodology, budget‑predictability framework, and a competitive procurement plan. The contract will be a fixed‑price agreement (maximum amount not disclosed) with monthly invoicing, required insurance (general liability, professional liability, cybersecurity, etc.), and compliance with prevailing‑wage and labor‑code requirements. The engagement may span multiple fiscal years, subject to City Council budget approval. • Advisory analysis of Section 115 trust structures (single‑ vs multiple‑employer) • Reserve sizing and funding methodology development • Risk/return comparison and recommendation of target funding range • Framework for using trust assets to improve municipal budget predictability • Procurement strategy for selecting a trust provider • Required SEC/MSRB registration for any municipal securities advice • Fixed‑price contract with monthly invoicing and strict insurance mandates • Compliance with California prevailing‑wage, labor‑code, and cybersecurity regulations