On September 13, 2023, the Mayor and City Commission approved the issuance of RFQ 2023-543-WG. On September 13, 2023, the RFQ was issued. The Procurement Department issued bid notices to 2,949 companies utilizing the City's e-procurement system, with 41 prospective bidders accessing the solicitation. RFQ responses were due and received on October 26, 2023. The City received proposals from Fiduciary Trusty International and PNC Bank N.A.
On January 4, 2024, the Evaluation Committee appointed by the City Manager convened to consider the responsive proposals received. The Committee was comprised of Richard Ajami, Budget Officer, Office of Management and Budget; Gretel Ferrer, Accounting Manager, Finance Department; Manny Marquez, Assistant Director, Finance Department; and Sara Patino, Treasury Manager, Finance Department. The Committee was provided an overview of the project, and information relative to the City's Cone of Silence Ordinance and the Government Sunshine Law. The Committee was also provided with general information on the scope of services and a copy of each proposal. The Committee was instructed to score and rank each proposal pursuant to the evaluation criteria established in the RFQ.
The evaluation process resulted in the proposers being ranked by the Evaluation Committee in the following order (See Attachment A):
1st ranked – Fiduciary Trust International
2nd ranked – PNC Bank N.A.
After reviewing the proposals and the results of the evaluation committee, which resulted in Fiduciary Trust International being unanimously ranked as best qualified, it is recommended that the Administration negotiate first with Fiduciary Trust International. While both of the proposing firms have sufficient experience to provide services for the City of Miami Beach, Fiduciary Trust International provides a unique familiarity with the City’s present financial and fiduciary needs.
The firm has assisted not only the City of Miami Beach Finance Department with custodial banking services but also provided services to components of the City, including the City’s General Employee Retirement and Miami Beach Fire and Police Pension plans.
Fiduciary Trust International’s tenure with the City has created unique opportunities and capabilities amplified based on its history with the City. For example, the firm has identified trends and patterns, as well as anomalies and risks, to City’s investment. Together these capabilities have resulted in the maximization of returns and increased safety of the City assets.
Historically, Fiduciary Trust International has been able to advise the City on the latest market development for fiduciaries and customers and has been able to advise the City on new methodologies, tools and techniques to address the risks, as well as educate the City on best stratagems and protocols to mitigate concerns including the challenges of new AI technologies and increased fraud factors for governmental institutions. The firm’s knowledge of the City’s partners including financial institutions and investment advisors, permit seamless implementations of new security protocols while providing additional points of contacts to encourage greater safety parameters.
Fiduciary Trust International has a long-standing relationship and familiarity with the City’s investment advisors, which fosters a more collaborative relationship around the City’s monetary assets, resulting in significant benefits to the City, most notably allowing the City to maximize product options not easily implemented for other customers.
Fiduciary Trust International has a strong emphasis on internal control policies and procedures to ensure the safety of customer assets. Unlike a significant number of other fiduciary services institutions, fiduciary services are its primary business, and this has permitted the firm to narrow its focus on assets security, maximize expertise in fiduciary services, and assertively develop its business model to adapt to an ever-changing, risky financial environments.
The following is a summary of both firms.
Fiduciary Trust International
Fiduciary Trust International is a qualified custodian and chartered Trust Company and has been safekeeping client assets for more than 91 years. In addition to serving as custodian for investment management and trust clients, their custody business is a strategic part of the firm that also provides standalone custody solutions. Today, the firm serves as a custodian for public pension plans, municipalities, government agencies, foundations, endowments and others. Fiduciary Trust International offers a unique, highly personalized service model and solutions-based approach that alleviates the administrative burden faced by individuals, families, and institutions.
The firm has local offices in Coral Gables, St. Petersburg, Palm Beach, and Boca Raton, as well as offices in New York, Virginia, Georgia, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, and Delaware. The City of Miami Beach would be serviced from the firm’s Coral Gables Office located at 2 Alhambra Plaza, PH-1A, Coral Gables, FL 33134. Some of their local custodial banking clients include the City of Hollywood and the City of Miramar.
PNC Bank N.A.
For more than 170 years, PNC has been committed to providing its clients with great service and powerful financial expertise to help them meet their financial goals. PNC is proud of its longstanding history of supporting customers and their communities, employees, and shareholders.
PNC offers strategic insight and financial solutions for businesses, organizations, municipalities, and nonprofits throughout the U.S. and internationally.
PNC remains committed to serving custody clients by forging long-lasting relationships and continually enhancing solutions. This mission has been at the forefront of the firm’s custody solution for over 75 years. As of June 30, 2023, 1,284 clients with $136 billion in assets under administration benefit from their custody services. The City of Miami Beach’s custody team can share insights gathered from working with similar clients nationwide.
Some of their local clients include the Miami Beach Community Health Center, Inc., and the Town of Highland Beach, Florida.