REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS / STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
For Municipal Bond Underwriting Services
Dated: May 27, 2026
I. OVERVIEW
The Saline Regional Public Water Authority (the “Issuer”) wholesale drinking water project is to provide high-quality drinking water to at least eight participating water systems. The project includes distribution from the raw water intake on the Ouachita River to a raw water storage reservoir to a new water treatment plant as well as a distribution system to bring water to each entity’s individual system.
The Issuer is soliciting proposals from municipal bond underwriting firms (the “Firms”) with demonstrated experience in underwriting utility system revenue bonds. The Issuer anticipates issuing up to $120 million of Water Revenue Bonds to finance improvements and capital upgrades to the wastewater collection, treatment, and transmission systems.
The proposed financing is expected to be issued on a tax-exempt basis under applicable federal and Arkansas laws.
II. SCOPE OF SERVICES
1. Assisting in document preparation, review, and coordination with all professionals, including bond counsel, municipal advisor and Issuer staff.
2. Advising on method of bond sale, credit considerations, and potential credit enhancement or reserve requirements.
3. Conducting investor outreach and marketing the bonds to local, regional, and national buyers.
4. If a public offering, utilize an electronic order platform to maintain and share full order information with the Issuer during pricing.
5. Providing pre-sale and post-sale analysis and market commentary summarizing pricing performance and investor participation.
6. Reviewing bond closing documentation and facilitating a successful bond closing.
III. RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS
Please organize your proposal in the following sections. Submissions should not exceed fifteen (15) pages, excluding appendices.
1. Executive Summary
a) Overview of your firm’s qualifications to serve as underwriter/placement agent for the proposed financing.
b) Discussion of firm’s Arkansas market presence, municipal utility experience, and retail/institutional distribution capabilities.
c) Summary of recent engagements with Arkansas municipalities or utility systems.
d) Any additional factors the Issuer should consider in its selection process.
2. Underwriting Team and Key Personnel
a) Identify the members of banking team and key professionals who will be assigned to this financing.
b) Provide brief biographies summarizing relevant transaction experience.
3. Relevant Experience
a) Provide details of comparable revenue bond financings within the past five years, particularly for water, sewer, or utility systems.
b) Include issue size, structure, ratings (if applicable), and roles served.
c) Highlight Arkansas transactions or transactions with similar borrower profiles.
4. Market Approach
a) Discuss market conditions, expected investor appetite, and key factors that could influence pricing results.
b) Address your firm’s underwriting capacity and willingness to commit capital to support the transaction if required.
5. Marketing and Distribution Strategy
a) Describe your firm’s retail and institutional investor base, including relationships with Arkansas and regional buyers of municipal revenue bonds.
b) Explain how your firm will ensure broad and competitive distribution for the Issuer’s issue.
6. Disclosures
Disclosure of any material litigation, administrative proceeding, disciplinary notices or any actions received from any regulatory agency, or investigation for violation of any regulatory agency rules (SEC, MSRB, FINRA, NYSE, etc.) in which your firm or principals or employees were involved, whether currently ongoing or concluded since April 1, 2021.
IV. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
• Submission Deadline: Electronic proposals must be submitted by 1:00 p.m. Central, June 18, 2026.
• Submission Contacts: Send proposals electronically to Perry Y. Young, Attorney, at pyoung@jyb.law, or else physically addressed to c/o Jensen Young & Butler, PLLC, 1230 Ferguson Dr., Benton, AR 72015
• Questions: Questions regarding this RFP should be submitted in writing to pyoung@jyb.law no later than June 11, 2026. Responses will be shared with all prospective applicants.
• Selection Process: Firms will be evaluated based on qualifications, demonstrated experience, market insight, and proposed pricing scale.
• Reservation of Rights: The Issuer reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive irregularities, and negotiate final terms with one or more respondents.
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