Request for Qualifications for Outside Counsel Services Follow Solicitation

EMPLOYEESRETIREMENT SYSTEM OF TEXAS REQUEST FORQUALIFICATIONS FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL SERVICES

SOLICITATIONNO. 26-15128-001 NIGP CODE: 961-49(LEGAL SERVICES – ATTORNEYS)

The Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) has issued a Requestfor Qualifications (RFQ) seeking qualified firms (Respondents) to provideoutside counsel services. Respondents shall provide the level of servicesrequired in the RFQ and meet other requirements that are in the best interestsof ERS, its members, and the state of Texas (State). Respondent shall berequired to execute a contract (Contract) provided by, and satisfactory to, ERSfor a period that begins upon execution of the Contract by ERS and extends forsix (6) years, subject to the terms of the Contract. It is anticipated theContract will be executed in August 2027.

Questions will be accepted via Euna Procurement (formerly,“Bonfire”) until November 10, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (CT).Answers to questions will be posted to Euna Procurement and ESBD on the datespecified in RFQ Section A.6.

To be eligible for consideration, Respondent is required to submit itsresponse to the RFQ (Proposal) in accordance with the instructions set forth inthe RFQ. Respondents must meet the Minimum Requirements set forth in Section Bof the Respondent Questionnaire (Appendix F). All Proposal materialsshall be received by ERS via Euna Procurement no later than February1, 2027, at 10:00 a.m. CT.

To download the RFQ, submit questions, and/or submit a Proposal,prospective Respondents must first create a profile in Euna Procurement (ERS’ e-procurement portal located at erstexas.bonfirehub.com),which operates best on the latest versions of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome,and Mozilla Firefox. Browser cookies must be enabled when accessing EunaProcurement. Note that Respondent’s primary Proposal contact must create a EunaProcurement profile (with the actual contact person’s email address) anddownload the RFQ documents in order to send and receive messages via EunaProcurement.

ERS reserves the right to rebid the RFQ if deemed by ERS to be in thebest interests of ERS, its members, and/or the State. ERS also reserves theright to reject any Proposal submitted that does not fully comply with theRFQ’s instructions and criteria. ERS is under no legal requirement to execute aContract on the basis of this notice or upon issuance of the RFQ and will notpay any costs incurred by any Respondent in connection with the preparation ofa Proposal. ERS also reserves the right to revise any provisions set forth inthe RFQ at any time prior to execution of a Contract where ERS deems it to bein the best interests of ERS, its members, and/or the State.

Any general questions should besent to ERS’ Office of Procurement and Contract Oversight via Euna Procurementor ivendorquestions@ers.texas.gov.ERS’ mailing address is P.O. Box 13207, Austin, Texas 78711-3207.