Broker-Dealer Application (BDA) 2026

The County of Orange, through the County Executive Office of Budget and Finance, is conducting a solicitation process under DBA 23-000122 to establish an Approved Broker-Dealers List for investment-related services. This process evaluates Broker-Dealers based on a standardized points-based scoring matrix, focusing on client services, references, investment types, trade confirmation efficiency, primary dealer status, electronic trading platforms, research portals, and firm experience. To be eligible, applicants must have at least five years of operating experience, hold SEC and FINRA registrations, be authorized to operate in California, and comply with SEC Rule 15c3-1 net capital requirements. Submission of the application is required by October 21, 2026, at 3:00 pm via the County's online bidding system in PDF format. Required documentation includes a completed application, audited annual reports, Form BD Status Reports, SEC Focus Reports or FFIEC 031, service level agreements, MSRB Rule G-37 filings, and Levine Act Campaign Contribution Disclosure forms. Approved firms must acknowledge the County's Investment Policy and adhere to strict operational standards, such as providing trade confirmations to the County's custodian within two hours of execution. This application process is informational and does not constitute a binding contract or guarantee of inclusion on the approved list.