2-RFI - USHE Shared Health Benefits RFI DGO FINAL.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

RFI # USHE12172025

For: Health & Welfare Benefit shared services for the institutional members of the Utah System of Higher Education

RFI Issued: 12/17/2025 Questions Due: 01/16/2026, by 11:30 P.M. MST Response Due: 01/31/2026, by 11:30 P.M. MST

Procurement Unit: The State of Utah Division of Purchasing is the Issuing Procurement Unit and The Utah Board of Higher Education (UBHE) is the Conducting Procurement Unit. (63G-6a-103)

I. PURPOSE (63G-6a-409)

a. The purpose of this RFI is to obtain information, comments, or suggestions from potential vendors before issuing a request for proposals (RFP) so that if/when an RFP is issued, it will better meet industry standards and compliment the needs of the UBHE.

b. A RFI does not replace a solicitation (e.g. RFP) and therefore will not obligate the State or the UBHE in any way, nor will it result in any contract awards.

II. BACKGROUND & EXPECTED OUTCOMES

a. Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) institutional employee health and welfare benefit plans currently span an array of carriers, designs, and costs as seen in the included feasibility study.

b. Information from this RFI is expected to provide the UBHE with best practices, strategies, and solutions to support the potential consolidation of USHE member institution employee health and welfare benefit plans.

Specifically, innovative approaches that:

i. Deliver measurable cost savings and/or cost avoidance

ii. Improve administrative efficiency

iii. Preserve or enhance the competitiveness of employee benefit packages

c. The UBHE is particularly interested in solutions that balance financial sustainability with employee satisfaction.

The final approach selected will be described in a subsequent Request for Proposal (RFP). The approach may be https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title63G/Chapter6A/63G-6a-S103.html?v=C63G-6a-S103_2025101420251206 https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title63G/Chapter6A/63G-6a-S409.html?v=C63G-6a-S409_2020051220200512 selected from those outlined in the attached feasibility study, received through the RFI process, or those identified through other analyses or processes.

III. QUESTIONS

a. Questions regarding this RFI must be submitted online via the public Q&A.

IV. RESPONSE FORMAT

a. Responses to this RFI must be uploaded electronically via the online platform.

b. Responses should be formatted in an easy-to-read style, restating each RFI question followed by a concise response to each question.

c. Vendors may provide multiple responses to each question if offering multiple solution models for consideration.

Multiple responses representing multiple solutions should be clearly identified as separate responses. Separate responses will be evaluated independent of one another.

d. Vendors should provide an executive summary of proposed solutions that briefly summarizes the overarching approach, strategic objective and implementation mechanisms, among other information critical to describing the solution.

V. RFI – INFORMATION REQUESTED FROM VENDORS

a. USHE is requesting responses to the following questions as applicable to proposed solutions. Vendors should provide their response in the format detailed in section IV.

b. Considerations while responding, if applicable:

i. Implementation strategies for any recommended solutions

ii. Timeline detail and milestones for any implementation or processes

iii. Resources required for any recommended solutions and net ongoing cost avoidance or savings estimates

Question # Question

How can the System consolidate health and welfare benefits while continuing to recognize some level of individual institutional discretion in employee offerings?

Which health and welfare benefits present the greatest opportunities for consolidation and why?

How will the proposed solution minimize employee disruption and maximize continuity of coverage?

How will the proposed solution be administered (e.g. internally, through member institutions, through a third party, etc.)?

How will the proposed solution address utilization, claims administration, pharmacy benefit manager services, stop-loss coverage, or other employee benefit services?

6 How will the proposed solution minimize administrative burden and administrative costs?

7 How should individual institutional cost experience be recognized in a consolidated model?

What other details, analytical work, estimates for costs/savings, or other information would be helpful in evaluating the proposed solution? Please provide as possible.

VI. SUMMARY OF ATTACHMENTS

a. Attachment A – Feasibility Study

i. The included feasibility study was performed to explore potential opportunities for meaningful cost savings and serves as a starting point for consideration. Respondents are encouraged to build upon feasibility study concepts or to propose entirely new and creative solutions to secure meaningful cost savings.