5369-B.PDF

This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) document from the City of Tucson, Arizona, seeking qualified firms to provide comprehensive Employee Benefits Consulting Services. The consultant will deliver ongoing collaborative and consultative services to support the development of the City's short- and long-term benefits management strategy, covering approximately 4,200 benefits-eligible employees and 4,000 benefits-eligible retirees. Key responsibilities include tracking medical and dental claims experience, developing monthly reporting and analysis, creating rate equivalents for medical plans, providing regulatory compliance guidance, and delivering actuarial and underwriting capabilities, medical and clinical reviews, benefits communication, RFP preparation, and contract negotiation services. Proposals were due on October 22, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. local Arizona time. The contract is structured as an initial one-year term with options to extend for up to four additional one-year periods, totaling a potential five-year engagement.

Vendors are required to provide an all-inclusive annual fee covering direct and indirect costs, including labor, overhead, materials, printing, travel, and mileage, though no specific budget range was disclosed in the documentation. The procurement indicates openness to various consulting firm types, with potential emphasis on Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) participation in accordance with attached ARPA Terms and Conditions guidelines. The City became self-insured for medical coverage in July 2019 and will transition to self-insured dental coverage on July 1, 2025, requiring the consultant to support this operational transition. Proposal evaluation will be based on qualifications and experience, method of approach, and pricing. The scope of services suggests a substantial contract value given the complexity of managing benefits for over 8,000 employees and retirees and the need for expertise in clinical consulting, vendor performance evaluation, and data-driven plan design recommendations.