Request for Qualification

The Office of the General Treasurer is seeking qualifications to establish a pool of qualified firms to serve as senior managing underwriter(s) and/or co-managing underwriters in connection with the future issuance(s) of general obligation bonds, lease participation certificates (certificates of participation or COPs) or other obligations by the State of Rhode Island (the “State”). The initial term of the underwriter pool will be for two years commencing at the conclusion of this solicitation, running through June 30, 2026, with the State’s option to extend for up to three additional one-year periods. The State reserves the right to sell its obligations through a competitive sale, negotiated sale, direct purchase or private placement.

The State reserves the right to waive any irregularity in any response and to reject any or all responses. Expenses of preparing and submitting qualifications will be the responsibility of the underwriting firms. Should the State determine that a negotiated offering is in its best interest, the underwriter(s) and their attorneys will be compensated as determined by the State for the obligations when, and if, the State issues bonds on a negotiated basis.

Notwithstanding this request for qualifications of underwriters for inclusion in a pool, the State reserves the right not to use any member or members of the pool, if it is determined to be in the best interest of the State to do so. Selection to a pool does not entitle the selected firm assignment to any specific bond issue(s) or any specific participation in State bond issuance(s). Being selected to be part of the State’s negotiated sale underwriting pool does not guarantee that the State will issue any of its bonds using a negotiated sale process.

The State, its bond counsels (Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP and Hinckley Allen & Snyder) and disclosure counsels (Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C. and Bowditch & Dewey LLP) will have primary responsibility for preparation of the Preliminary and Final Official Statement and the Continuing Disclosure Agreement. Public Resources Advisory Group (“PRAG”) serves as Financial Advisor to the State.