This is a service / maintenance or supply contract in Champaign, Illinois. Contact the soliciting agency for additional information.

The State Universities Retirement System ("SURS" or the "System") is soliciting competitive bids from qualified vendors/contractors for Strategic Planning Consultant. The selected vendor will be responsible for advising SURS on the strategic planning process and the development of a new strategic plan. SURS is currently undergoing a significant transformation, which includes a multi-year initiative to digitally overhaul our operations and manage increasing staff changes due to retirements. To support these efforts and ensure sustainable success, SURS seeks to enhance its long-term planning strategies. It is anticipated that SURS will enter into a two (2) year contract with an option to extend the contract for one (1) year. A responder's preparation and submittal of a proposal or subsequent participation in presentations or contract negotiations creates no obligation on the System to award a contract or to pay any associated costs. All proposals and related materials will be retained by the System and will be subject to disclosure as required in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Response to Questions:October 28, 2024, 4:30pm SURS is the administrator of a cost-sharing, multiple-employer, public employee retirement system that provides retirement, survivor, disability and death benefits to employees of Illinois state universities, community colleges, and certain other affiliated organizations and agencies. SURS was created in 1941, by an act of the Illinois General Assembly, and is governed by the Illinois Pension Code (40 ILCS 5/15-101 et seq.). SURS provides benefit services to over 250,000 members who work for 61 employers. SURS is responsible for investing assets in a diversified portfolio of U.S. and foreign stocks, bonds, real estate and alternative investments. SURS maintains a defined benefit plan, which on June 30, 2024, had assets valued at approximately $24.4 billion. SURS also administers two defined contribution plans, the Retirement Savings Plan, which on June 30, 2024, had assets of approximately $4.3 billion and the Deferred Compensation Plan, which had assets of approximately $67.4 million. Northern Trust serves as SURS' master trustee custodian. An elected and appointed, eleven-person, board of trustees, governs SURS. Five members of the board are appointed by the governor of the state of Illinois (one of whom is the chairperson of the Illinois Board of Higher Education). The remaining six members of the board are elected by participating members (four individuals) and annuitants (two individuals). The governor designates the chairperson of SURS from among the eleven trustees. Trustees serve six-year terms. SURS is funded by participant payroll deductions and annual employer contributions, the majority of which are provided directly from the state of Illinois. By statute, SURS is defined as a "body politic and corporate" created by Article 15 of the Illinois Pension Code. SURS currently employs approximately 173 staff, located in offices in Champaign and Naperville, Illinois. Two SURS employees are in the Naperville office. The remaining SURS employees are currently situated in two Champaign offices at 1901 Fox Drive and 1801 Fox Drive. A copy of SURS' most recent annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR) is available for review, or to download, at www.surs.org. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act, 40 ILCS 420, provides guidelines for ethical practices concerning state and local pension plans. Responders should be familiar with the provisions of this Act. Section 1-109.1(6) of the Illinois Pension Code (40 ILCS 5/1-109.1(6)) encourages Illinois public pension systems like SURS to utilize businesses owned by "minorities," "women," and "persons with disabilities" for all contracts and services, as those terms are defined in the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with Disabilities Act ("BEMWPD,"30 ILCS 575). Additionally, Section 1-109.1(10) of the Illinois Pension Code (40 ILCS 5/1-109.1(10)) sets an aspirational goal of not less than 20 percent of contracts awarded to such businesses for "information technology services," "accounting services," "insurance brokers," "architectural and engineering services," and "legal services" as defined by the BEMWPD. Accordingly, businesses that meet these definitions are strongly encouraged to submit responses to this RFP. A section of the Illinois Procurement Code concerning prohibitions of political contributions for vendors, 30 ILCS 500/50-37, may or may not apply to SURS service providers. However, each service provider should be familiar with the provisions of this section and comply with this section if the service provider deems it appropriate. SURS is subject to its own procurement statutes and rules. Responders should be familiar with those procurement requirements as well. The selected responder will be paid by SURS directly. Additional legal requirements that responders should be familiar with are contained in the Addendum to Contract.