ID: RFP-20-26-06
The State Universities Retirement System (SURS) is soliciting proposals from qualified Proxy Service Providers to provide proxy advisory and proxy voting services as a fiduciary designated under 40 ILCS 5/1-109.1(1)(b). This includes proxy policy development, research, analysis, recommendations, and voting services for domestic and international proxies.
| Document Name | Date | Pages |
|---|---|---|
| Proxy Advisory and Proxy Voting Services | March 12, 2026 | 31 |
| Proxy Advisory and Proxy Voting Services – Microsoft Word | March 12, 2026 | 31 |
| Appendix B – Diversity Disclosure – Microsoft Excel | March 12, 2026 | 2 |
| Appendix E – Sustainability Disclosure | March 12, 2026 | 1 |
| Questions & Answers – See Below | April 2, 2026 | NA |
Schedule
| Description | Date |
|---|---|
| Quiet Period Begins | March 12, 2026 |
| RFP Issued | March 12, 2026 |
| Responder Questions Due | March 27, 2026, 4:30 p.m. CT |
| Responses to Questions | April 3, 2026, 4:30 p.m. CT |
| RFP Responses Due on or Before | April 22, 2026, 4:30 p.m. CT |
| Evaluations & Interviews | April/May 2026 |
| Estimated Selection Date | June 4, 2026 |
Questions & Answers
1. Would SURS consider selecting a service provider that cast votes in accordance with policy but does not offer recommendations i.e. all votes would be cast by the service provider without any items being returned to SURS staff for action?
No – SURS would prefer the ability to view recommendations and change votes if necessary.
2. Please provide the number of and total assets in separately managed equity accounts.
As of 12.31.2025, SURS has 17 separately managed accounts totaling approximately $5.4 billion in assets.
3. Would SURS please clarify the number of meetings they would vote on an annual basis?
SURS voted in approximately 3,100 meetings in 2025.
4. Would SURS please clarify the breakdown of the meetings into US and Global?
US meetings: 2,480
Non-US meetings: 639
5. Would SURS please clarify the annual number of ballots?
SURS voted approximately 3,700 ballots in 2025.
6. For the “Thematic proxy voting guidelines” specified in the Fee Proposal (Appendix E), would SURS please clarify which guidelines they envision being used? If multiple, please specify.
SURS currently uses the Public Pension Thematic guidelines from its current provider. There is willingness to consider other similar thematic policies if they align with the Board’s investment beliefs.
7. For “Pass thru voting for comingled funds” specified in the Fee Proposal, would SURS please provide additional information regarding the request?
SURS currently utilizes a voting choice platform offered by one of its commingled funds. We would like to know the cost of voting those shares using the same provider that votes our separately managed accounts. Additionally, if a respondent offers further capabilities in terms of voting pro-rata shares in commingled funds, we would be interested to know the cost.