Free template · Word document
OCIO & Investment Consultant RFP Template
An editable request for proposal for foundations, endowments, nonprofits, retirement plan committees, RIAs and bank trust departments hiring an outsourced CIO or investment consultant — fifty-two questions in eleven sections, a fee disclosure schedule every bidder must complete the same way, a timeline and a scoring matrix.
- Every firm answers the same questionStructured sections and a mandatory fee schedule make proposals comparable on total cost, not presentation polish.
- Written for committees, not consultantsPlain-English instructions, a suggested eight-week timeline and a one-page scoring matrix your minutes can reference.
- Delete what you don’t needRetirement-plan and RIA sections are marked optional. Keep the fiduciary, fee and transition sections whatever you are hiring for.
Companion reading: Ten Questions to Ask an OCIO · How OCIO Pricing Actually Works · OCIO for foundations & endowments · Retirement plan consulting
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A preview: three of the 52 questions
Every section of the template ends with a committee note on what to look for in the answers. Three of the questions:
- Will you acknowledge in writing that you are a fiduciary to our organization with respect to all services proposed?From Section 1, Firm, ownership and fiduciary status.
- What are your criteria for placing a manager on watch and for termination? How many managers have you terminated in the past three years and why?From Section 4, Manager research and due diligence.
- How do you report fees — your own, underlying managers’ and custody — in dollars, on one page?From Section 6, Reporting, communication and education.
The template adds the fee disclosure schedule every bidder completes the same way, a suggested timeline and a weighted scoring matrix. Get the template →