25447-RFP-DST_Benefits_Administration_Intent_to_Award.pdf
PDF 916 KB Posted
- Attached to
- BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION State and local contract opportunity
- Solicitation number
- 25447-RFP-DST
- Issued by
- Hillsborough County, Florida
About this file
This is a Notice of Intent to Award for Request for Proposals 25447-RFP-DST Benefits Administration issued by Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) in Florida, dated November 3, 2025. HCPS solicited proposals for a benefits administration outsourcing partner to support employee and employer service needs, with a planned go-live date of July 1, 2026. The solicitation was distributed to 3,182 vendors via VendorLink and 1,049 vendors via Euna Open Bids (DemandStar), resulting in 12 vendor responses. Required services include employee portal and mobile experience capabilities, employer portal functionality, COBRA and ACA administration, service center support, communications services, compliance support, and closed-loop payroll integration. Responses were received on September 15-17, 2025. The evaluation committee, comprising 18 members including HCPS staff from IT, Payroll, Risk Management, and Procurement Services, as well as consultants from AON, assessed proposals against nine criteria: Organizational Details (5%), Employee Portal/Mobile Experience (10%), Employer Portal/Functionality/Backroom Support (10%), Service Center (15%), Communications (10%), Quality Delivery and Operational Excellence (15%), Implementation Overview (5%), Value-Added Services (5%), and Pricing (15%), with an additional Small Business Encouragement Program component worth 10 points.
Alight Holdings Company LLC was recommended for award with a Phase I evaluation score of 85.10 out of 100 points, significantly outperforming competing vendors. Nine vendors were deemed non-responsive or ineligible due to incomplete bid documents, failure to offer direct benefits administration services, or service gaps including lack of closed-loop payroll support. The top five responsive vendors were Alight Holdings Company LLC (85.10), Empyrean Benefit Solutions, Inc. (71.46), WEX, Inc. (70.84), PlanSource (70.74), and Benefitfocus (68.78). The evaluation emphasized service center staffing, experience, training, and support capabilities as critical factors. Pricing was weighted at 15% of the total evaluation score, and no vendors received Small Business Encouragement Program points. Protests must be filed within the timeframe prescribed by Florida Statutes 120.57(3) with the General Manager of Procurement Services at the HCPS office in Tampa, Florida.
View the file
Other files for this state and local contract opportunity
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 25447-RFP-DST_Benefits_Administration_Addendum_2_Questions.pdf | ||
| Attachments.zip | ZIP file | |
| SMALL_BUSINESS_ENCOURAGEMENT_PROGRAM9.2.25.pdf | ||
| 25447-RFP-DST_Benefits_Administration_Addendum_1_Due_date_change_and_SBEP.pdf | ||
| Attachment_A_-_HCPS__Questionnaire_Pricing.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| 25447-RFP-DST_Benefits_Administration.pdf | ||
| STATEMENT_OF_NO_BID.pdf | ||
| Vendor_Registration_Form_07.10.25.pdf | ||
| VENDOR_AFFIDAVIT_REGARDING_THE_USE_OF_COERCION_FOR_LABOR_AND_SERVICES.pdf | ||
| CONTRACTING_WITH_ENTITIES_OF_FOREIGN_COUNTRIES_OF_CONCERN_PROHIBITED_AFFIDAVIT.pdf |
On GovTribe
Work with this file on GovTribe
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
Superintendent of Schools Van Ayres
PROCUREMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD
Request for Proposals: 25447-RFP-DSTn Benefits Administration
Date: November 3, 2025
As to the above-mentioned Invitation to Bid, pursuant to §§ 287.057(1)(a) and 120.57(3), Florida Statutes, Hillsborough County Public Schools (“HCPS”) posts its Notice of Intent to Award to the vendors identified in Attachment A. The awarded vendor(s) must meet all mutually agreed qualification requirements prior to the provision of the goods and services.
Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in § 120.57(3), Florida Statutes, or failure to post the bond or other security required by law within the time allowed for filing a bond shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes. Any protest concerning HCPS’ decision must be timely received via courier, the General Manager of Procurement Services.
Protests may be filed by courier, hand delivery, or regular mail at: Hillsborough County Public Schools, Procurement Services Department, Office of the General Manager, 901 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, Florida 33602. Protests may also be filed by email at corey.murphy@hcps.net. It is the filing party’s responsibility to meet all filing deadlines.
Procurement Services appreciates all vendors’ interest in doing business with HCPS and encourages participation in future bidding opportunities. Any questions regarding the competitive solicitation process may be forwarded to the Procurement Services Department representative below.
Sincerely, Erika James, Senior Procurement Officer erika.james@hcps.net Phone: (813) 272-4619
RFP # 25447-RFP-DST BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Bid notifications were sent to 3182 vendors via VendorLink and 1049 via Euna Open Bids (DemandStar).
Responses were received from 12 vendors.
Alight Holdings Company LLC 320 Canal Street Chicago, IL 60606 Bryan Skaggs Phone: 224 7377000 Fax:
bryan.skaggs@alight.com
Submitted 9/17/2025 6:46:06 AM
Benefitfocus 100 Benefitfocus Way Charleston, SC 29492 Doug Weinbach Phone: 404 9735167 Fax:
doug.weinbach@benefitfocus.com
Submitted 9/17/2025 12:50:23 PM
*CBIZ Benefits and Insurance Services 9755 Patuxent Woods Drive Columbia, MD 21046 Carly Vettori Phone: 610 3043126 Fax:
carly.vettori@cbiz.com
Submitted 9/17/2025 2:33:59 PM
Empyrean Benefit Solutions, Inc.
3010 Briarpark Drive, Suite 8000 Houston, TX 75093 James Absher Phone: 214 5648133 Fax:
jabsher@goempyrean.com
Submitted 9/17/2025 1:10:53 PM
Superintendent Van Ayres
Attachment A
*Higginbotham Public Sector 2175 North Glenville Drive Richardson, TX 75082 Glenn Turchi Phone: 469 5012145 Fax:
gturchi@higginbotham.com
Submitted 9/17/2025 2:20:14 PM
*Interflex Payments LLC 2508 Highlander Way Suite 200 Carrollton, TX 75006-2313 Michelle Teadt Phone: 972 2693598 Fax:
rfp@myameriflex.com
Submitted 9/17/2025 2:57:35 PM
*Perlong LLC 2336 Simonson Drive Wellington, FL 33414 Natasha Persad Phone: 917 5450723 Fax:
hello@thehrxperts.com
Submitted 9/17/2025 2:52:01 PM
PlanSource 101 S Garland Avenue, Orlando Orlando, FL 32801 Daniel Morris Phone: 770 8617174 Fax:
daniel.morris@plansource.com
Submitted 9/17/2025 10:28:05 AM
*Secova Inc.
600 International Drive Budd Lake, NJ 07828 Shyam Rajagopal Phone: 862 4654056 Fax:
shyam.rajagopal@secova.com
Submitted 9/15/2025 9:20:58 AM
*US Retirement Partners, Inc.
99 S Wood Avenue Iselin, NJ 08830 Jessica Ghaly Phone: 732 5541269
Submitted 9/17/2025 2:51:49 PM
Fax:
clientdeliverysupport@daybright.com
WEX, Inc.
1 Hancock Street Portland, ME 04101 Lorraine Holly Phone: 562 9659337 Fax:
lorraine.holly@wexinc.com
Submitted 9/16/2025 2:56:27 PM
*Winston Financial Services, Inc 2399 US Highway 34 Manasquan, NJ 08736 Curry Bradley Phone: 732 8990990 Fax:
mflick@winstonbenefits.com
Submitted 9/17/2025 12:18:14 PM
GBGM Consulting, LLC.
6457 Livewood Oaks Drive orlando, FL 32818 Gloria Joyner Phone: 407 7601131 Fax:
gjoyner@gbgmconsulting.com
Draft 9/3/2025 2:28:55 PM
Ant Farm II, LLC 291 Heritage Walk Woodstock, GA 30188 Teddy Smith Phone: 405 2556197 Fax:
tsmith@antfarmservices.com
Do not wish to submit a quote
9/10/2025 2:34:03 PM
bswift LLC 500 W. Monroe, Suite. 3800 Chicago, IL 60661 Kevin Brannick Phone: 847 8158754 Fax:
brannickk@bswift.com
Do not wish to submit a quote
8/28/2025 10:55:21 AM
C1000 LLC
6611 Southpoint Parkway Jacksonville, FL 32216
Do not wish to submit a quote
9/10/2025 2:10:36 PM
Cheya Thousand Phone: 646 3207010 Fax:
cheya@cheyathousand.com
Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company 2701 North Rocky Point Suite 800 Tampa, FL 33607 Chanda Goddard Phone: 813 6371258 Fax:
chanda.goddard@cignahealthcare.com
Do not wish to submit a quote
9/10/2025 2:15:14 PM
Merritt Enterprise LLC 3518 Bonnie Drive Apopka, FL 32703 Denise Merritt Phone: 407 8630222 Fax:
supplierdiversity@mbspeobroker.com
Do not wish to submit a
9/10/2025 2:55:04 PM
Seacoast National Bank 815 Colorado Avenue Stuart, FL 34994 Csaba Mate Phone: 813 7161680 Fax:
csaba.mate@seacoastbank.com
Do not wish to submit a
9/10/2025 1:37:41 PM
Evaluation Committee Members
Member Role
Last Name First Name Position Site Email
Voter Bazick Ken Manager, IT Business Solutions
Technology Division ken.bazick@hcps.net
Voter Heaton Stepanie Gen Manager, Payroll
Payroll stephanie.heaton@hcps.net
Voter Profitt Renee Analyst 2, Risk Management
Employee Benefits and Risk Management renee.profitt@hcps.net
Voter Smith Sophia Accountant 4 Employee Benefits and Risk Management sophia.smith@hcps.net
Voter Bradley Woods Manager, Services, Support
Service and Support Department bradley.woods@hcps.net
Advisor Evseeva Olga Department Manager, Services & Support
Technology Division olga.Evseeva@hcps.net
Advisor Pickering Christine Department Manager, Quality Assurance
Student Services christine.pickering@hcps.net
Advisor Schatzberg Tracy General Manager, Employee Benefits Insurance
Employee Benefits and Risk Management tracy.schatzberg@hcps.net
Facilitator Baez Rebecca Procurement Officer
Procurement rebecca.Baez@hcps.net
Facilitator James Erika Senior Procurement Officer
Procurement erika.james@hcps.net
Facilitator Mifflin Erin Procurement Officer
Procurement erin.mifflin@hcps.net
Facilitator Perales Christy Procurement Officer
Procurement christy.perales@hcps.net
Facilitator Viamontes Ivan Manager Procurement ivan.viamontes@hcps.net
Facilitator White Adrian Procurement Officer
Procurement adrian.white@hcps.net
Consultant Booher Amy VP, Lead Consultant
AON amy.booher@aon.com
Consultant Hronek Heather AVP, Lead Consultant
AON heather.hronek@aon.com
Consultant Jinks Jeff VP, Account Executive
AON jeff.jinks@aon.com
Consultant Marsh Sean VP, Consumer Benefits Solutions
AON sean.marsh@aon.com
Criteria Phase I
Description Weight Value Organizational Details 5
• Experience working with clients (Complexity, size, overall market experience)
• Approach supporting HCPS
• Thoroughness of Business Continuity Strategy
Employee Portal/Mobile Experience 10
• Single site/portal hub capabilities
• Mobile App
• Innovation / Automation (AI, workflow, efficiency, productivity, etc.)
• Health & Wellbeing Enrollment Process and Life Events
• Decision Support Tools
• Spending Account Tools
Employer Portal/Functionality/Backroom Support 10 •COBRA administration experience
• ACA administration experience
• Tools, Data Access and Reporting
• Case Management Tracking
• Open task/issue tracking and resolution process
• Data/Information Audits
• Closed Loop Payroll Process
• Change Management Support
Service Center 15 •Supporting Active Populations
• Staffing, experience, training, monitoring, and location(s)
• Culture Training
• Specialized high-touch support (Deaths and Retirement)
Communications 10
• Standard Year-Round
• Customized communication and marketing capabilities
• Annual Enrollment
• Communications currently provided:
o Benefit Guide o Confirmation Statements o Binders for benefits team (including over and spine) o Banners and Tiles for enrollment site o DOL Marketplace Notice o 5 separate eCards o Leave of Absence Letter o Microsite page content o Poster o Postcards for Actives and Retirees o Retiree Guide o Retiree Letter o Videos for Medical and Rx o Overage Dependent Letter and Form
Quality Delivery and Operational Excellence 15 •Ongoing Governance Meetings
• Quality controls, testing, and ensuring high quality service
• Escalation Support
• Service Level Agreements
• Compliance Support
Implementation Overview 5
• Approach and team dedication
• Quality and clarity of transition project plan
Value-Added Services 5
• Carrier/Vendor Partnership Agreements and Integrations
• Carrier Tech Credits and Discounts
Pricing 15
Small Business Encouragement Program (SBEP) 10 Utilization of HCPS-registered vendors. Based on the submitted information in the “SBEP Subcontractor Utilization Letter of Intent,” Procurement Services encourages a percentage of the projected dollar expenditures to be allocated to HCPS-registered OSD vendors. Points shall be allocated based on the percentage of total HCPS dollars under the Agreement: 1 point for each 10% of the funding to the HCPS-registered SBEP. Example: 0 points: 0% to 9%, 1 point: 10% to 19%, 2 points: 20% to 29%, 3 points: 30% to 39%, … No (zero) points are offered for federally funded solicitations.
Phase I
Evaluations
Criteria Organizational Details
Employee Portal/Mobile Experience
Employer Portal/Function ality/Backroom Support
Service Center
Communications Quality Delivery and Operational Excellence
Implementation Overview
Value Added Services
Pricing Small Business Encourage ment Program
(SBEP)
Total
Weight 5 10 10 15 10 15 5 5 15 10 100
Alight Holdings Company
LLC
5.00 9.38 9.12 14.40 9.40 14.40 5.00 4.60 13.80 0.00 85.10
Benefitfocus 3.92 8.10 8.06 12.30 7.62 12.32 3.18 3.90 9.38 0.00 68.78
Empyrean Benefit Solutions, Inc.
3.80 8.02 7.78 12.28 7.90 12.62 3.20 3.84 12.02 0.00 71.46
PlanSource 3.68 8.02 8.04 12.30 7.80 12.34 3.20 3.90 11.46 0.00 70.74
WEX, Inc. 3.66 8.00 8.00 12.38 7.62 12.32 3.22 3.94 11.70 0.00 70.84
Notes:
* non-responsive
CBIZ Benefits and Insurance Services - did not submit the completed & signed HCPS bid documents.
Higginbotham Public Sector - not offering benefits administration services directly.
Interflex Payments LLC - doesn’t offer the full scope of services; they only support spending accounts and COBRA
Perlong LLC dba The HR Xperts - The vendor did not submit completed and signed HCPS bid documents.
Secova Inc. – The vendor did not submit completed and signed HCPS forms.
US Retirement Partners, Inc. (Daybright) - not offering benefits administration services directly.
Winston – doesn’t support closed-loop payroll, which is in place today and is essential for HCPS
Recommendation for Award
Alight Holdings Company LLC
| 25447-RFP-DST Benefits Administration Notice of Intent to Award.pdf |
| RFP 25447-RFP-DST Benefits Administration Board Tabulation |
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .