QA Life Insurance.pdf

Questions & Answers Group Life Insurance Services – 19MX5326R0004

Technical Questions

Q1. Current coverages, and whether they apply to the entire population A1. Coverage will be applicable to the entire population of employees.

Q2. List of insured members (names are not necessary, but gender and dates of birth are required).

A2. Please refer sections J.2, Exhibit A – USG Employee Statistics and J.3, Exhibit B –

ORE Employee Statistics in Amendment 0001.

Q3. Monthly salaries (to confirm if claim payouts are calculated based on monthly salary) A3. As the coverage stated in Section C, monthly salary will be the calculator factor.

Q4. Claims experience report for the last 5 years.

A4. Please refer sections J.2, Exhibit A – USG Employee Statistics and J.3, Exhibit B –

ORE Employee Statistics in Amendment 0001.

Q5. Report of individuals currently in the process of total or temporary disability, including start dates and medical conditions.

A5. Employees who reach a determination of permanent (total) disability are separated from employment in accordance with standard employment procedures. Currently, there are no employees in an IMSS permanent or temporary disability process.

Q6. We kindly request that you provide us,

• The claims report from the employees of the Government of the United States of

America (USG), Riders ORE at least the last 3 policy periods o Amount claimed per loss (essential).

o Date of occurrence (essential).

o Loss cutoff date (essential).

o Coverage claimed (desirable).

o Date of claim (desirable).

o Insureds per policy period (desirable).

• The lists shall include employees enrolled at the beginning of the contract, including o Gender.

o Date of birth, age.

o Sum insured rule.

o Amount of sum insured or salaries (for those cases where the sum insured is based on months of salary) o Population classification (subgroups) according to the requested conditions

(in case subgroups are not required, this information will not be mandatory).

A6. Please refer sections J.2, Exhibit A – USG Employee Statistics and J.3, Exhibit B –

ORE Employee Statistics in Amendment 0001.

J.2.2 EMPLOYEE CENSUS. SALARY RANGE Exchange Rate for Calculation Purposes: 17.5

MXP/1 USD

Q7. The salary ranges presented in the table correspond to annual salaries?

A7. Yes, the salary ranges presented in the table correspond to annual salaries.

J.2.2 EMPLOYEE CENSUS.

Q8. The census of employees, including their respective age and salary, can be presented in detail, employee by employee?

A8. Please refer sections J.2, Exhibit A – USG Employee Statistics and J.3, Exhibit B –

ORE Employee Statistics in Amendment 0001.

C.1.2.2 Other Exclusions

Q9. The RFP states that no benefits shall be paid for accidents resulting from the influence of alcohol, drugs, or toxic substances. Please confirm whether this exclusion applies to all coverages, including Natural Death, Accidental Death, and Total Permanent Disability.

A9. Conditions and Limitations are applicable uniformly across all coverage types under this contract, including Natural Death, Accidental Death, and Total Permanent Disability benefits.

Q10. The RFP indicates that suicide is not covered. Please confirm whether this exclusion applies regardless of the employee’s length of service or policy seniority, including employees with more than two (2) years of continuous coverage.

A10. Suicide will not be covered. The suicide exclusion applies universally under this contract, regardless of the employee's length of service or policy seniority.

C.1.1.3 Total Permanent Disability Coverage

Q11. For Total Permanent Disability coverage, please confirm whether pre-existing conditions are covered and whether the employee’s prior seniority within the insured group will be recognized for eligibility purposes.

A11. Yes, pre-existing conditions are covered and prior seniority within the insured group is recognized for eligibility purposes. Neither medical history nor length of service serves as a factor, condition, or limitation for coverage.

Section C – Claims Administration Requirements

Q12. Please confirm whether claims for all three coverages shall be subject to the insurer’s standard claims documentation checklist and required claim forms.

A12. Please refer to subsection H.4.1.2, Settlement of Life Insurance Claims, in

Amendment 0001.

Section C – Claims Documentation

Q13. Please confirm whether documents issued outside Mexico must be apostilled and accompanied by an official Spanish translation in order to process claims.

A13. Yes. Documents issued outside Mexico must meet the following authentication and translation requirements to process a claim:

Commonly Required Documents:

• Apostille or Consular Legalization: Foreign documents, such as a death certificate, must be apostilled if the issuing country is a signatory to the Hague Convention, or legalized through the corresponding Mexican consulate if it is not.

• Official Spanish Translation: Documents issued in a language other than Spanish must be accompanied by an official translation completed by a certified translator.

These requirements apply as part of the standard claims process under Mexican insurance regulations and may vary depending on the insurer.

Section C – Claims Administration

Q14. Please confirm whether claim payments must be made exclusively via bank transfer and whether payments are limited to Mexican Pesos (MXN) and U.S. Dollars (USD).

A14. The payment of a life insurance claim should be processed through secure methods that ensure the protection of the beneficiary. Therefore, payments are typically made via bank transfer and in the local currency, which in this case is Mexican Pesos (MXN). Payments in U.S. Dollars are not required. Please refer to subsection H.4.1.2, Settlement of Life Insurance Claims, paragraph d), in Amendment 0001.

C.1.1 Coverage Territory

Q15. Please confirm whether coverage for death claims applies only when the insured event occurs within Mexican territory or if worldwide coverage is included.

A15. Locations are not a condition or limitation for coverage

E.5 Service Issue Resolution and Escalation

Q16. Please clarify the expected turnaround time for claim resolution and claim payment once complete claim documentation has been submitted.

A16. Please refer to subsection H.4.1.2, Settlement of Life Insurance Claims, in

Amendment 0001.

Q17. Please share the current census of insured individuals (Date of birth, age, gender, position, and monthly salary).

A17. Please refer sections J.2, Exhibit A – USG Employee Statistics and J.3, Exhibit B –

ORE Employee Statistics in Amendment 0001.

Q18. Please share the claims report for the last 5 years.

A18. Please refer sections J.2, Exhibit A – USG Employee Statistics and J.3, Exhibit B –

ORE Employee Statistics in Amendment 0001.

Q19. Do the bodyguards carry weapons?

A19. Yes, they do legally carry weapons.

Q20. Do you have any special endorsements?

A20. Please refer to the entire RFP.

Q21. Please confirm the Sum Insured rule per coverage.

A21. Please refer to RFP section C.1.1, Group life Insurance Coverage.

Q22. Please let us know if there are individuals with permanent disability or incapacity; if so, provide details (disability start date, cause of disability, and the indemnity amount).

A22. Please refer to Q5.

Q23. Do individuals over 64 years old have disability coverage? Or what specific coverages do they have?

A23. Yes, employees over 64 years old are not excluded from coverage and shall receive the same Natural Death, Accidental Death, and Total Permanent Disability coverages as all other eligible employees, with no age-based exclusions or limitations under this contract. Coverage applies to the entire employee population regardless of age. Per C.1.3 Eligible Participants, eligible employees include all current active Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) and locally hired U.S. citizens employed within the geographic boundaries of Mexico who meet the following criteria:

• Working on a full-time or part-time basis under non-temporary direct-hire appointments or personal services agreements/contracts (PSA) that are not time-limited to less than one year

• Hired as Locally Employed (LE) Staff

• Paid under the Local Compensation Plan and certified by the Contracting

Officer

Q24. Are individuals aged 64 and older registered at the IMSS?

A24. Yes, they legally can work and be enrolled into IMSS.

Q25. Currently, the Sum Insured structure is 35 months of salary for Basic Coverage and Disability, and 17 months of salary for the Accidental Death coverage. In the document provided, under the evaluation criteria, it states:

Based on the same structure as the policies currently, and considering that, in the Group Life Insurance policy, the Sum Insured for additional benefits cannot exceed the Sum Insured of the basic death coverage, please confirm whether the Sum Insured structure is as follows:

• Basic Coverage: 32 months of salary

• Accidental Death: 14 months of salary

• Disability: 8 months of salary

For example, in the event of accidental death, would the total payment amount to 46 months of salary (32 for the Basic Coverage and 14 for Accidental Death), or are the rules exactly as indicated in the table required?

A25. The coverage amounts are specified in Section C.1.1 as follows:

• Natural Death (C.1.1.1): The employee's estate or employee's named beneficiary(ies) will receive an amount equal to thirty-two (32) times the amount of monthly basic salary in the event the employee dies of natural causes.

• Accidental Death (C.1.1.2): The employee's estate or employee's named beneficiary(ies) will receive an amount equal to forty-six (46) times the amount of monthly basic salary in the event the employee is killed in an accident and in case of work-related death.

• Total Permanent Disability (C.1.1.3): The employee will receive an amount equal to forty (40) times the amount of monthly basic salary when employment ends due to total permanent disability.

These amounts represent the total payout for each coverage type, not cumulative or additive amounts. For Accidental Death, the total payment is 46 months of salary— this is not 32 months plus an additional 14 months, but rather a single total benefit of 46 months that includes the base coverage. Similarly, for Total Permanent Disability, the total payment is 40 months of salary as a single total benefit. Offerors must structure their pricing and coverage to provide these exact total benefit amounts as specified in the contract, understanding that the 46-month and 40-month figures are complete, standalone benefit amounts rather than supplemental additions to the 32-month natural death benefit..

Q26. Please confirm whether the Sum Insured rule is the same for all sections. Otherwise, please confirm the structure that should be considered and the Sum Insured rule applicable to each section.

A26. Please refer to Q25.

Q27. What is the maximum issue age for insured individuals?

A27. There is no maximum issue age for insured individuals. Coverage applies to all eligible employees regardless of age. Please refer to Q23.

Q28. Can proof of registration with the IMSS (Mexican Social Security Institute) be provided for retroactive enrollment requests?

A28. Proof of IMSS registration is not required for retroactive enrollment requests. The enrollment process does not mandate this documentation.

Q29. Could the name of the Embassy be added to the Embassy certificates in addition to the Consul’s name?

A29. No, if you are referring to ORE Staff Consul is the employer.

Q30. What is the process for payment or reimbursement of annual adjustments?

A30. Please refer to RFP Section G for details. After reconciliation between the insurance company and Embassy of annual adjustments has concluded and both parties agree with the final amount, the insurance company must issue an invoice that will be paid within the following 30 days, a credit note to be applied to a future payment, or wire the money owed to the Embassy to the U.S. Department of State bank account. The specific method used—invoice for payment, credit note, or wire transfer—will depend on whether the adjustment results in additional payment owed to the contractor or a refund owed to the Government following the annual reconciliation process.

Q31. Will salary adjustments be reported during the annual contract term?

A31. Yes.

Q32. Will dividend options be requested for the contract?

A32. No dividend options apply to this contract, as the policy is non-participating and does not provide for dividend distributions.

Q33. Can beneficiary designation forms from the consulates be submitted in physical format?

A33. All forms will be provided as a hard copy/original.

Q34. Are Peace Corps and APHIS costs already included in the process?

A34. Please refer to C.1.3.3, Location of Employment.

B.1.1 RIDERS.

Q35. Please confirm, How many policies are to be issued in total?

A35. The total number of policies to be issued will depend on the final policy configuration the U.S. Government will determine. For each contract year, the U.S.

Government will group different offices and agencies depending on the U.S.

Government needs and budget allocation. The initial configuration will be at least three different separate policies, but this number might change once the contract is awarded. In addition, individual Certificates of Insurance will be issued for each insured employee under the applicable coverage structure.

Q36. Please confirm if the State of Department will provide the Excel file containing the insured persons’ names, dates of birth, and salaries in pesos?

A36. Please refer sections J.2, Exhibit A – USG Employee Statistics and J.3, Exhibit B –

ORE Employee Statistics in Amendment 0001.

Q37. Please confirm if the State of Department will provide the Excel file settlement of claims?

A37. Please refer sections J.2, Exhibit A – USG Employee Statistics and J.3, Exhibit B –

ORE Employee Statistics in Amendment 0001.

B.2.5.1 Base Year.

Q38. Please confirm, if the payments are specified as biweekly; however, the sum assured rule is expressed in months. Is it correct to convert this to 26 biweekly periods and then derive the corresponding monthly amount?

A38. Monthly amount can be determined by dividing the Annual Base Salary by 365 days. List of employees and their corresponding salaries will be provided as annual amounts.

J.2.1 Employee Statistics.

Q39. What are the accepted age ranges for the coverage?

A39. Please refer to Q23.

C.1.1 Group life Insurance Coverage

Q40. Does the payment of 46 months’ salary for accidental death include the 32 months of death benefit coverage, or is it an additional amount?

A40. Please refer to Q25.

C.1.1 Group life Insurance Coverage

Q41. In the event of accidental death due to the use of prescribed medication, would the coverage be limited to natural death, or would it also be considered an accident?

A41. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis after the corresponding investigation is completed. The contractor should be prepared to conduct thorough investigations and work with the Contracting Officer's Representative to determine the appropriate classification and benefit payment for such cases in accordance with the contract terms and the findings of the investigation..

C.1.1 Group life Insurance Coverage

Q42. What rule of sum insured will apply to individuals on unpaid leave? What is the maximum period of coverage for such individuals?

A42. Please refer to RFP Section C.1.4.2., Period of Ineligibility.

C.1.2.2. Other Exclusions.

Q43. Please confirm the exclusion outlined in section a), as it is unclear. There is no way to verify whether the deceased violated the law (the specific law is not indicated), nor is there knowledge of resistance to arrest. This exclusion appears ambiguous. Please clarify it so that it can be properly applied.

A43. The contractor must have the capability to verify whether an event violates applicable law in the country where the event occurred through established investigative procedures, such as obtaining police reports and coordinating with local authorities. This is a standard requirement for claims adjudication in group life insurance contracts. The contractor must be able to conduct thorough investigations to determine whether exclusions apply based on the facts and circumstances of each case. The specific laws referenced in the exclusion are the laws of the jurisdiction where the death occurred, and the contractor is responsible for determining applicability through proper investigation and documentation..

C.2. Definitions / Total and Permanent Disability

Q44. Please confirm that the coverage does not include disability, but rather Total and Permanent Disability. Accordingly, we request that this be aligned with the definition of this coverage as established in the General Conditions of Group Life Insurance of Our insurance company.

A44. See section C.1.1.3, Total Permanent Disability.

C.2. Total and Permanent Disability.

Q45. Please confirm there are any exclusions applicable to this coverage, or if the exclusions contained in the General Conditions of Group Life Insurance of our Insurance will be used.

A45. All exclusions are specified throughout Section C of the contract. The contract terms govern this coverage, and the insurance company's General Terms and Conditions cannot be applied directly without acceptance from the Contracting Officer. Offerors must review Section C to understand all applicable exclusions for this group life insurance coverage, as these contract-specified exclusions take precedence over any standard exclusions in the insurer's general policy documents.

Any exclusions not explicitly stated in the contract cannot be applied unless specifically approved by the Contracting Officer.

Documents in case of Claim

Q46. Please confirm that you agree with the checklist of documents for indemnity and acknowledge that any additional documentation may be requested, even if not listed in the checklist, in accordance with Article 69 of the Insurance Con Law.

A46. Please refer to subsection H.4.1.2, Settlement of Life Insurance Claims, in Amendment 0001.

Section C.2 / H.4.1.2

Q47. Please confirm whether the IMSS ST-4 "Dictamen de lnvalidez" will constitute sufficient and exclusive evidence to determine and pay Total and Permanent Disability benefits Linder this contract.

A47. Please refer to subsection H.4.1.2, Settlement of Life Insurance Claims, paragraph c), in Amendment 0001.

Section C.2 / H.4:

Q48. Please confirm whether the insurer may require an independent or supplementary medical evaluation in cases where material inconsistencies, ambiguities, or insufficient information exist in the disability determination documentation, provided such requirement is permitted under applicable Mexican law.

A48. Please refer to subsection H.4.1.2, Settlement of Life Insurance Claims, paragraphs

c) and e), in Amendment 0001.

Section C.J.2:1:

Q49. The RFP states that a terrorist attack shall not be considered war. Please confirm whether terrorism coverage is required on a full-limit basis and without the application of any sublimit and identify any conditions/exclusions that would apply.

A49. All exclusions are specified throughout Section C of the contract. No exclusions or conditions are applicable if not expressly stated in Section C and throughout the different sections of the contract.

Section H.4.1.2:

Q50. Please indicate the expected claims settlement timeframe following receipt of complete claim documentation, and define what constitutes a "complete" claim file.

A50. Please refer to subsection H.4.1.2, Settlement of Life Insurance Claims, in

Amendment 0001.

Section C.2 (Maximum Benefit) / C.1.1:

Q51. Please confirm that the insurer's maximum liability under the policy shall not exceed the applicable sum insured for each covered benefit (natural death, accidental death, and total permanent disability) and clarify whether any aggregate caps apply.

A51. Please refer to Section H.4 and Section C.

Section H.4.1.2.1:

Q52. Please provide the claims validation and adjudication process, including required review and approval procedures, timelines, and the communication process with the claimant and the COR.

A52. The plan to provide services under this contract in compliance with all the applicable requirements stated in the contract must be submitted as part of the technical proposal and will be subject to evaluation. The specific periods for payment of claims are stated in Section H.4.1.2, coverages are stated in Section C, and any other requirements are stated throughout the contract. Offerors must develop and present their proposed claims validation and adjudication process, including required review and approval procedures, timelines, and the communication process with the claimant and the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), as part of their technical proposal submission. This process will be evaluated as part of the technical evaluation criteria to ensure the offeror can meet all contract requirements for claims processing, including the payment timelines specified in Section H.4.1.2 and all other applicable requirements throughout the contract.

Section H.4.2:

Q53. Please confirm that the Policyholder will provide the insurer with the individual insured consent(s) required under applicable Mexican insurance regulations and the Mexican Insurance Contract Law (including any required authorizations for processing personal data), as applicable.

A53. Please refer to subsection H.4.1.2, Settlement of Life Insurance Claims, in

Amendment 0001, and RFP subsection H.4.2, Compliance with Ley Federal de Protección de Datos Personales.

Section H.4.2:

Q54. Please confirm whether the insurer may utilize its own consent forms and beneficiary designation forms, provided such forms comply with all applicable Mexican legal and regulatory requirements and are acceptable to the COR/CO.

A54. Please refer to subsection H.4.1.2, Settlement of Life Insurance Claims, in

Amendment 0001.

Section H.4.2:

Q55. Please confirm whether original handwritten ("wet") signatures from insured employees will be required on all consent/beneficiary forms, or whether electronic signatures will be accepted; if accepted, please specify the acceptable standard and evidence requirements.

A55. Please refer to subsection H.4.1.2, Settlement of Life Insurance Claims, paragraphs

e) and f), in Amendment 0001.

Section H.4.1.2:

Q56. In the absence of a designated beneficiary, please confirm that claim proceeds shall be distributed in accordance with applicable Mexican law (legal heirs/estate), and specify the documentation required to establish entitlement.

A56. Please refer to subsection H.4.1.2, Settlement of Life Insurance Claims, paragraphs

e) and f), in Amendment 0001. The Contractor's technical proposal must demonstrate their capability to handle such claims in compliance with both contract requirements and applicable Mexican legal requirements.

Section H.4.1.2 / H.4.2:

Q57. Please confirm whether the Policyholder shall be solely responsible for obtaining, maintaining, and updating insureds’ consent forms, personal data processing authorizations; and beneficiary designations, and clarify the insurer's responsibilities and liabilities (if any) in case of missing, inaccurate, or outdated documentation.

A57. Please refer to RFP section H.4.

Section H.4.1.1:

Q58. Please specify the documentation required to support and process a claim under each coverage provided (natural death, accidental death, and total permanent disability), including whether originals or certified copies are required.

A58. The contractor shall follow what is stated in Section H.4 and coordinate with COR and claimant the processes within the scope of the whole RFP. Please refer to subsection H.4.1.2, Settlement of Life Insurance Claims, paragraphs e) and f), in Amendment 0001.

Accidental death claims:

Q59. Please confirm whether, as part of the claim documentation, certified copies of the complete investigation file and all related records issued by the corresponding Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Publico) shall be required; if not, please specify the minimum acceptable evidence.

A59. Please refer to Q59.

Section C.1.6:

Q60. Please confirm that the required cadence for status/claims/policy performance presentations is quarterly (every 3 months) in both English and Spanish and clarify whether any minimum number of employee information/Q&A sessions per year is required beyond "as-needed".

A60. Please refer to subsection C.1.6.2, Employee Information Sessions, in Amendment

0001. The Contractor's technical proposal shall describe their approach to conducting these sessions and ensuring effective bilingual communication with all employees.

Section E.3 and E.5:

Q61. Please confirm that the Quality Assurance Team (QAT) must provide written status/resolution updates to the COR within seven (7) business days per complaint/ticket and clarify the relationship between this 7-day requirement and the 15-business-day issue resolution and escalation timelines.

A61. Please refer to section E3.

Section E.4:

Q62. Please confirm that Service Level Agreement (SLA) reviews are required on a quarterly, semi-annual, and annual basis, and that any SLA changes require mutual written agreement and documentation.

A62. Please refer to E.4 for details.

Section F.5.2.1:

Q63. The RFP requires initial individual insurance certificates within fourteen (14) calendar days after receipt of a fully approved Task Order. Please confirm whether the Government would accept (a) an interim coverage confirmation letter effective as of the coverage start date, and (b) delivery of certificates within thirty (30) calendar days.

A63. If that scenario is needed, the contractor must contact the U.S. Government

Contracting Section, Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), and Contracting Officer (CO) as soon as possible to specify the reasons why the timeframe cannot be met, and a final determination based on those specifics will be made. The fourteen (14) calendar day requirement for delivery of initial individual insurance certificates is a contract requirement, and any deviation from this timeline requires advance notification and approval from the Contracting Officer. Offerors should not assume that alternative arrangements, such as interim coverage confirmation letters or extended delivery timeframes of thirty (30) calendar days, will be automatically accepted. The contractor must demonstrate in their technical proposal their capability to meet the fourteen (14) calendar day requirement, and any requests for alternative arrangements must be submitted with justification for review and approval by the Contracting Officer on a case-by-case basis.

Section G.8.l-G.8.2:

Q64. Please confirm whether the Project Manager must be dedicated exclusively to this contract or may support other accounts, provided 24/7 availability and performance requirements are met, and confirm whether 24/7 support may be delivered via an existing operations/call-center model.

A64. As referred to in Section G.8, the Project Manager must be available 24/7 since they will be the main point of contact. The contract does not require the Project Manager to be dedicated exclusively to this contract, provided that 24/7 availability and all performance requirements are met. The Project Manager may support other accounts as long as their availability and responsiveness to this contract are not compromised. The 24/7 support may be delivered via an existing operations/call-center model, provided the Project Manager remains accessible and responsive at all times and fulfills all responsibilities outlined in Section G.8. The contractor's technical proposal should clearly describe how the Project Manager will maintain continuous availability and meet all contract requirements while potentially supporting other accounts or utilizing a call-center support structure.

Section G.8.2:

Q65. Please confirm the required 24/7 support channels (phone, email, online/portal), and whether bilingual (Spanish/English) coverage is required across all channels.

A65. The proposal must include the proposed support channels and will be considered part of the evaluation. Offerors must specify in their technical proposal which support channels they will provide for 24/7 availability (such as phone, email, online portal, or other communication methods) and what language capabilities will be offered through each channel. The proposed support structure, including channels and language capabilities, will be evaluated as part of the technical evaluation criteria.

Section F.5.3 (Policy Validity):

Q66. Please confirm the policy validity/coverage term for the Base Year and each Option Year (start at 00:00 and end at 23:59 local time on the applicable dates) and clarify whether any grace period or administrative extension applies, if any.

A66. The coverage shall be for the entirety of the 365 days, the whole 24 hours of each day, for each period of the contract. Unless an extension is awarded and notified to the contractor, an extension will not be required beyond the original contract lengths. This means coverage begins at 00:00 local time on the first day of each contract period (Base Year, Option Years, or any authorized extension) and continues through 23:59 local time on the last day of that period, providing continuous 24-hour coverage throughout the entire contract year. No automatic grace period or administrative extension applies unless specifically authorized and communicated by the Contracting Officer. The contractor must ensure uninterrupted coverage for the full duration of each contract period as specified in the contract, and any extensions beyond the original contract periods will only apply if formally exercised by the Government and notified to the contractor in writing.

Section H.5.3 (Insured Employees Report):

Q67. Please confirm whether the Insured Employees Report is required to include, at a minimum, each insured's date of birth and gender, and whether the report must clearly identify Regular Employees vs Bodyguards (in addition to policy number, certificate number, and enrollment date).

A67. Please refer to subsection H.5.3, Insured Employees Report, in Amendment 0001.

Loss experience:

Q68. Please provide the loss/claims history for the last five (5) policy years, including at minimum: claim number, date of loss, date reported/received, coverage type, cause, and amount paid.

A68. Please refer sections J.2, Exhibit A – USG Employee Statistics and J.3, Exhibit B –

ORE Employee Statistics in Amendment 0001.

Section F.5.1 / F.5.2:

Q69. Please clarify whether the Government expects the contractor/insurer to issue (a) one or more master group policies (by agency/group) with individual certificates, or (b) individual policies for each insured person.

A69. Please refer to Q35.

Q70. Confirm the expected structure for Regular Employees, Bodyguards, and ORE rider coverage.

A70. Coverage stated in Section C is applicable to all employees regardless of their group or location. This means Regular Employees, Bodyguards, and employees covered under the Official Residence Expense (ORE) rider all receive the same benefit levels: 32 times monthly basic salary for Natural Death, 46 times monthly basic salary for Accidental Death, and 40 times monthly basic salary for Total Permanent Disability. The distinction between employee categories is for administrative and pricing purposes only, but the coverage structure and benefit amounts remain uniform across all categories as specified in Section C.

Section C.2 / H.4.1.2 (Definitions / Settlement of Life Insurance Claims):

Q71. Please confirm whether the lnstituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) is the competent authority to issue disability determinations (Formato ST-4 "Dictamen de lnvalidez") for foreign nationals legally employed in Mexico. If the IMSS is not the competent authority in such cases, please specify what alternative Mexican authority or medical-legal documentation would be acceptable for the determination and payment of Total and Permanent Disability benefits under the policy.

A71. Please refer to Q47.

General - (Article 492):

Q72. Please confirm whether the Policyholder is subject to the obligations set forth in Article 492 of the Ley Federal para la Prevencion e Identificacion de Operaciones con Recursos de Procedencia Ilicita, and if applicable, specify the KYC/AML documentation and compliance requirements applicable to the insurer.

A72. The insurance company must comply with all local legal obligations as a company.

As an accredited Diplomatic Mission, the U.S. Embassy follows the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR). The contractor (insurance company) is responsible for complying with all applicable Mexican laws and regulations, including Article 492 of the Ley Federal para la Prevención e Identificación de Operaciones con Recursos de Procedencia Ilícita and any associated Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements that apply to insurance companies operating in Mexico. However, the U.S. Embassy operates under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and is not subject to the same local compliance obligations as the insurance company. The contractor must ensure full compliance with all Mexican legal requirements applicable to insurance providers, including any KYC/AML documentation and compliance procedures, while recognizing the diplomatic status of the U.S. Government as the policyholder.

General – Language of the Policy:

Q73. Please confirm whether the insurance policy, certificates, and contractual documents must be issued in both Spanish .and English, or whether issuance in a single language is acceptable, and specify which language shall prevail in case of discrepancies.

A73. Policy and certificates can be issued in Spanish. Documents explicitly specified in the RFP to be in English must be provided in English. The only valid contract is the one issued by the U.S. Government, which will be issued in English (please refer to Section H.10, signature limitations), and no translation to Spanish will be provided. All contractual and ordering documents shall be in English only and will govern the contractual relationship. English shall be the only language that will prevail in case of contractual discrepancies. Inconsistencies will be handled in the order of precedence stated in FAR 52.212-4 (r). As stated in FAR 52.212-4 (e), this contract is subject to 41 U.S.C. chapter 71, Contract Disputes. Any dispute will be resolved as per FAR 52.233-1, Disputes. The contractor may issue insurance policies and individual certificates of insurance in Spanish for the benefit of local employees, but in the event of any discrepancy between Spanish-language policy documents and English-language contract documents, the English-language contract documents shall prevail.

Official Residence Expense (ORE) - Separate Policy Structure Page 2, Section 8.1.1.1 (Official Residence Expense - ORE):

Q74. The RFP indicates that Official Residence Expense (ORE) personnel are included as an extension and that a separate policy must be issued specifically for ORE coverage.

Please confirm whether such ORE coverage shall be issued on an individual policy basis per insured or under a collective/group policy.

A74. Please refer to Q35 and Q70.

Informational Brochures - Responsibility for Validation Page 27, Sections C.1.5.1 (Format and Language) and C.1.5.2 (Delivery Timeline):

Q75. Please confirm whether the Contractor is responsible for the validation and approval of informational brochures, or whether such validation is the responsibility of the Government/Contracting Authority.

A75. Please refer to C.1.5.3

Delivery of Insurance Policies - Physical vs Digital Page 37, Sections F.5.2 (a) and F.5.2 (b):

Q76. Please confirm whether the delivery of insurance policies, including policies issued for employees added during the period of performance, is required to be physical, digital, or both.

A76. Legally valid documentation must be produced at all times.

English Language Proficiency Certification Page 38, Section G.8.1.4:

Q77. Please clarify what is meant by "English Language Proficiency Certification," including the type of certification required, the issuing authority, and whether internal certifications or equivalent evidence of proficiency will be accepted.

A77. Please refer sections G.8.1.4, English Language Proficiency Certification, in

Amendment 0001.

Initial Insurance Certificates - Digital Format Page 39, Section F.5.2.1 (Initial Insurance Certificates):

Q78. Please confirm whether Section F.5.2.1 refers to the delivery of initial insurance certificates exclusively in digital format.

A78. Please refer to F.5 in its entirety.

Format of Certificates - Notification, Timing, and Beneficiaries Page 39, Section F.5.2.2 (Format of Certificates):

Q79. Please indicate the notification method for certificate issuance and the number of days allowed for delivery.

A79. Please refer to F.5 in its entirety.

Q80. Additionally, please confirm whether certificates will be issued with beneficiary information, or whether certificates will be issued without beneficiaries, with beneficiary designations and consents provided separately.

A80. Legally valid documentation must be produced at all times. A55. Please refer to subsection H.4.1.2, Settlement of Life Insurance Claims, paragraphs e) and f), in Amendment 0001.

Certificates for Employees Added - Digital Delivery Page 39, Section F.5.2.3 (Certificates for Employees Added During the Period of Performance):

Q81. Please confirm whether the insurance certificates for employees added during the period of performance are required to be delivered in digital format.

A81. Please refer to F.5 in its entirety.

SECTION C.1.4.2. (page 27) Period of Ineligibility.

Q82. Could you clarify this section or answer whether it refers to: 1. There will be no coverage when the employee is on unpaid leave at the Embassy; or 2. In the event of non-payment of group life insurance premiums, compensation will not be payable due to non-payment.

A82. This ineligibility refers to the employment status of the insured individual. The contractor is responsible for completing the payment of claims regardless of the payment status of the policy. Refer to C.1.1 Group Life Insurance Coverage and Section J.2 (pages 75 to 85). Ineligibility for coverage is determined solely by the employee's employment status (such as being on unpaid leave), not by the premium payment status. The contractor must pay valid claims even if premiums have not yet been received from the Government, as coverage amounts are guaranteed at 100% of the premium cost irrespective of payment timing.

SECCIÓN J.2. (pages75 at 85)

Q83. Could you please share the exact salaries of each employee (not by rank or estimates), as this is essential for quoting the requested coverage. The current contractor has accurate and truthful information on this matter, and therefore directly benefits from having this unshared data.

A83. Please refer sections J.2, Exhibit A – USG Employee Statistics and J.3, Exhibit B –

ORE Employee Statistics in Amendment 0001.

J.2.4 NOTE FOR BIDDERS (pages79 and 80).

Q84. When requesting group life insurance coverage based on your own experience, it is essential to have the exact claims history, which includes amount paid, cause of death or total and permanent disability, date of claim, date of compensation, and whether the affected person was male or female. Therefore, we request that you share this information, without providing the personal data of the insured or their beneficiaries.

A84. Please refer sections J.2, Exhibit A – USG Employee Statistics and J.3, Exhibit B –

ORE Employee Statistics in Amendment 0001.

Administrative Questions

B.2.6.1.1 Monthly Rates per Regular Employee

Q85. For The fixed monthly prices/premium rates per Age-Group to provide Basic Life, Accidental Death and Total Permanent Disability. The benefits that also apply are Natural Death: 32 x monthly basic salary. Accidental Death: 46 x monthly basic salary. Total Permanent Disability: 40 x monthly basic salary?

A85. Yes.

B.6.1.2 Requirements to Request Adjustments a. i.

Receipts (total premiums paid by the U.S. Government). The Contractor shall break out these receipts into: (a) the portion attributable to the retention amount and (b) the portion attributable to claims funding and shall present this breakdown separately for each type of premium (e.g., Basic Life, Accidental Death, Total Disability Coverage), for each employee group (e.g., Regular Employees, Bodyguards), and for each policy.

Q86. Is permitted to generate a single receipt accompanying with an attached document where shall break out these receipts into: (a) the portion attributable to the retention amount and (b) the portion attributable to claims funding, for each type of premium and each employee group?

A86. This section is not talking about how receipt will be issued. It is related to the broken-down information required in case of requesting an Economic Price

Adjustment. This means the requirement is not about the format of payment receipts, but rather about providing detailed premium breakdowns when submitting an Economic Price Adjustment request. This information can be presented in a spreadsheet clearly detailing the information requested in this paragraph, showing the retention amount and claims funding portions separately for each premium type, employee group, and policy.

B.5.3.1 Retention Amount for Salary-Based Premiums and B.6.1.2 Requirements to Request Adjustments

Q87. The offer for: First Option Year, Second Option Year, Third Option Year, Fourth Option Year, For these years exist an adjustment method when the claims for the current period exceed the claims funding, or the insurer company may be proposed a methodology for this purpose?

A87. Prices shall be fixed for Base Year, four option years and 6-month extension. In case an Economic Price Adjustment is required, the contractor shall follow the requirements stated in section B.6, ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT-GROUP LIFE INSURANCE PREMIUMS. This means all pricing remains fixed throughout the entire contract period, and if an adjustment is considered necessary based on claims experience or policy behavior, the contractor must use the Economic Price Adjustment process specified in section B.6—the contractor cannot propose their own adjustment methodology or rate increase table based on claims experience.

G.4.8 Payment Frequency and Notification: The minimum payment frequency under this contract shall be quarterly. However, if the Government determines that a policy can be paid on a semi-annual or annual basis, the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) shall notify the Contractor accordingly. Upon notification, the Contractor shall issue an invoice reflecting the corresponding semi-annual or annual payment amount. (Refer to Section F.5.1 for details regarding the issuance of separate policies.)

Q88. If the payment frequency changes on an annual contract where one or more payments have been made, is possible to issue a new policy for the remaining period to complete the annual term and where the new payment method can be configured?

A88. Annual policies are required, except for the 6-month extension per FAR 52.217-8.

Payment frequency can be changed to accommodate any specific requirements after an agreement has been reached by the insurance company and the Embassy, once funds availability has been confirmed.

(r) Order of precedence (2)

Q89. In case that may arise any disputes during the term of the service, we require from the government agency to confirm that these will be reviewed according with the applicable law from the Country where the service is contracted?

A89. Inconsistencies will be handled in the order of precedence stated in FAR 52.212-4

(r). As stated in FAR 52.212-4 (e), this contract is subject to 41 U.S.C. chapter 71, Contract Disputes. Any dispute will be resolved as per FAR 52.233-1, Disputes.

This means disputes will not be resolved according to the local law of the country where the service is contracted, but rather under U.S. federal law and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), following the formal U.S. Government contract disputes process.

Q90. Please confirm the inception date of the policy.

A90. This date is to be defined depending on the time required to complete the solicitation process and award of the contract. This means the policy inception date has not been predetermined and will be established based on when the solicitation process is completed and the contract is awarded, so offerors should not assume a specific start date when preparing their proposals.

Q91. Is the premium payment paid by the insured, or is it 100% a company benefit?

A91. It is a 100% USG benefit. This means the premium payment is fully covered by the

U.S. Government as an employee benefit, and the insured employees do not pay any portion of the premium costs.

Q92. Regarding the requested rates, the premium amounts are based on age, gender, and salary. Do you wish for the rate calculation to be maintained this way?

A92. Please note that the RFP is requesting two different rating structures: one based on age and another based on salary. The RFP is not requesting rate differentiation based on gender. This means offerors must provide two separate rating structures—one that calculates premiums according to employee age and another that calculates premiums according to employee salary—but gender must not be used as a factor in determining premium rates for this contract. The Government will determine which pricing strategy—Salary-Based or Age-Based—provides the best value.

Q93. Is it possible to accept a rate increase table based on the account's claims experience?

A93. No. Please refer to Q87.

Q94. Would our proposal still be considered if we are unable to submit the first requested option, or is it possible to submit only one of the two options?

A94. Yes. Although offerors are allowed to quote only one pricing structure, it is highly recommended to quote both structures as the U.S. Government will determine the Best Value based on a comparative analysis of all proposals received and for both structures. This means your proposal will still be considered if you submit only one pricing structure (either Age-Based or Salary-Based), but submitting both structures is strongly encouraged because the Government will evaluate all proposals across both pricing options to determine which offers the best value, and limiting your submission to only one structure may place your proposal at a competitive disadvantage.

Q95. Under which address would the contract be issued due to the change of location?

A95. The Embassy’s legal address registered with the Ministry of Finance and Public

Credit (Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público) and reflected in our Tax Status Certificate (Constancia de Situación Fiscal) remains Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtémoc, Alcaldía Cuauhtémoc, C.P. 06500, Ciudad de México. Once the updated address is formally registered, a new Tax Status Certificate will be issued and shared with the insurance company to update its records and documentation.

Q96. Could you please clarify the scope of the following provision?. We understand that no payments will be made after September 30th; is this correct?

I.2.8 52.232-19 Availability of Funds for the Next Fiscal Year (Apr 1984)

Funds are not presently available for performance under this contract beyond 30 September of each Government Fiscal Year. The Government's obligation for performance of this contract beyond that date is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise for performance under this contract beyond 30 September of each Government Fiscal Year, until funds are made available to the Contracting Officer for performance and until the Contractor receives notice of availability, to be confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer.

A96. This provision does not mean that no payments will be made after September 30th.

Rather, it addresses the Government's funding obligation structure based on the federal fiscal year cycle. The Financial Management Office will determine the amount of initial funds that will be obligated to the contract. Complete funds for the entire contract year might not be available at the beginning of the policy and therefore might need to be added at a later date. If the contract is awarded before September 30th, the intention is to fund at least three to six months of coverage in the current fiscal year, with the remainder of the base year funded with FY2027 funds. Once funds are obligated, payments can be made at any time in FY 2026 or FY2027. The contractor will receive written notice from the Contracting Officer confirming when additional funds become available, and payments will be processed according to the invoice schedule as long as sufficient funds have been obligated to cover the invoiced amounts.

Q97. C.1.4.1 Term of Eligibility and Effective Date Please confirm the effective start date of the base policy?

A97. Please refer to Q90.

C.1.4.2 Period of Ineligibility

Q98. Could you please clarify the administration process for the policies? Will all additions and deletions be declared and paid accordingly? Or will adjustments be made only at the end of the coverage period through an annual review?

A98. Reconciliation of additions, deletions, and any changes of plan (if applicable) to the policy will be performed at the end of the coverage period, following an annual reconciliation of records.

Q99. If an annual adjustment is applicable, what formula or method should be followed?

A99. For current employees, insurance company will have to prorate the premium rate from the date of the change and until the end of the coverage period, deducting the amount already paid by the Embassy with a different rate.