Cofi's support for attorney-led RFPs provides a unique set of benefits.
Leverage our vast experience in navigating the complexities of the RFP process, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of vendor selection. We have helped attorneys and employers achieve best results for millions of participants.
We perform all back office due diligence functions, from employer needs analysis to submission evaluation to candidate interaction to new vendor installation, managing all of the back-office complexities (and heavy lifting) along the way. This lets counsel do the high-end work and still satisfy the client’s professional fee reasonableness demands.
Cofi tailors the RFP process to meet the specific needs of your clients, delivering a custom questionnaire, slate of candidates derived from our initial needs analysis, a full comparison report of all candidates, a list of questions for the finalist interviews and followup processes and service to ensure that the winning candidate serves as promised.
Cofi upholds a transparent RFP process, ensuring unbiased vendor selection that aligns with your client's fiduciary goals. Detailed documentation of this process is provided at the conclusion of the RFP.
ERISA lawyers serve their clients best when bringing prior experience to engagements. Cofi supplies templates and examples of every conceivable document and communication, so counsel is just doing “finish work” when it comes to document and communication needs.
From the “takes one to know one” department, we have subject matter experts with industry experience in every type of plan. By adding our expertise to counsel’s, there is nothing we don’t know and nothing we can’t accomplish together when it comes to optimal service provider placement and management.
Learn about our thorough, transparent RFP process and get a sense of what's involved.
The ERISA lawyer is the most important service provider to an employer when it comes to the critical fiduciary decision of which vendors to retain for the plan at what cost. This is because the ERISA lawyer has:
1. Training in fiduciary risk management
2. Training in governance decision-making
3. Complete independence
4. The highest duty of care
5. Industry knowledge
6. ERISA technical competence
7. Authority and credibility with the board
8. Ability to manage the contracting process
And, of course, the ERISA lawyer is the only professional who has the ability to protect the process with attorney/client privilege.
Fees for both the lawyer and Cofi vary depending upon size and complexity of plan, number of candidates and other factors. Cofi can provide flat fee quoting for its services. Cofi can also provide information regarding approximate legal fees based on Cofi’s experience.
Cofi supplies templates for all documents that the lawyers need to perform their functions.
RFP (letter to candidates setting rules of engagement)
Service contracts with new vendor
Notice to terminated vendor
Minutes of selection meeting
Final fiduciary opinion to Board regarding fiduciary compliance of process and ultimate selection
Cofi has templates available for all of these documents.
The ERISA lawyer is the quarterback of the whole process. You identify the need for the service where it is needed, you ensure governance mechanisms for the service provided selection process are integrous, you manage vendor contracting, you oversee the entire process and you guide the employer with our help to the best result.
Suggests candidates based on employer profile
Designs process and timeline for entirety of project
Supplies templates for all documents required by the lawyer for the lawyer’s functions (see above)
Interacts with candidates on submissions to ensure that all RFP responses are clear and include firm commitments
Participates in finalist interviews
Manages follow up to ensure all promises are kept
Employer needs questionnaire
Vendor RFP questionnaire
Candidates comparison report, a strengths and weaknesses comparison for each candidate, recommended interview questions per candidate and Cofi recommendations based on candidate submissions
Final co-fiduciary opinion
With Cofi's support, your RFP process becomes more affordable, efficient, transparent, and tailored to your clients' needs. Contact us today to learn how we can enhance your vendor selection.
Have questions or need assistance? Get in touch with our team. Use our contact page to find our contact information, including phone number and email address. We're here to provide support and answer any inquiries you may have.