Arbitrage

Background

The City of Little Rock, Arkansas, is the state's capital and largest municipality, with a mission to ensure a safe, secure, and prosperous environment for its residents. The city employs over 2,500 individuals across 16 departments. This Request for Supplier Qualifications (RFSQ) seeks qualified firms to provide professional arbitrage rebate compliance and consulting services related to the city's tax-exempt and tax-advantaged debt issuances. The selected vendor(s) will assist the city in adhering to federal regulations and IRS requirements governing arbitrage rebate and yield restrictions.

Work Details

The selected vendor shall provide the following services: 1. **Arbitrage Rebate Calculations**: Perform calculations for all applicable bond issuances, determine rebate liabilities at required computation dates, analyze investment earnings, and perform yield restriction analyses. 2. **Compliance Monitoring**: Monitor compliance with IRS regulations, identify potential rebate liabilities, notify the city of upcoming deadlines, and provide compliance summaries. 3. **Reporting and Documentation**: Prepare comprehensive reports suitable for IRS review, maintain documentation for audit defense, and provide periodic status reports. 4. **IRS Filing Support**: Assist with preparation of IRS Form 8038-T and related filings. 5. **Consulting Services**: Provide technical guidance on arbitrage implications for new debt issuances and participate in meetings with city staff and external auditors as needed. 6. **Training**: Offer training sessions for city staff regarding arbitrage compliance requirements.

Period of Performance

The anticipated contract term is three (3) years with two (2) optional one-year renewal periods subject to approval by the City.

Place of Performance

Services will be performed in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Bidder Requirements

Bidders must have a business license to operate in Arkansas. They must demonstrate at least five (5) years of experience providing municipal arbitrage rebate compliance services for governmental entities. Additionally, bidders must have no material history of regulatory sanctions or debarment within the past five years and must provide references from at least three governmental clients.