Digital_Submission_Instructions.pdf

This is a Digital Media Submission Instructions document for the State of Tennessee, Department of Finance and Administration, related to RFP #31786-00186 for fully-insured short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD-N) insurance benefits. The procurement seeks a single contractor to administer voluntary STD coverage (100% employee-paid premiums) and mandatory LTD-N coverage (100% employer-paid premiums) for central state government and state higher education agency employees. The contract will serve approximately 10,000+ members beginning January 1, 2027, with implementation activities occurring from March 2026 through December 2026. The proposal response deadline is November 21, 2025, with technical evaluations scheduled for January 6, 2026, cost proposal scoring on January 7, 2026, and contract negotiations set for January 12-14, 2026. The contract term extends for 70 months total, comprising 10 months of implementation and 60 months of benefit delivery through December 31, 2031.

Respondents must submit their responses, exhibits, and related documentation through a secure file-sharing link (https://tncloud.tn.gov/owncloud/index.php/s/G5Sil6ar4X5zTse) and must comply with all file naming, format, and schedule requirements outlined in RFP #31786-00186. The incumbent contractor is Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife), whose current contract expires December 31, 2026. Evaluation criteria allocate 40 points for technical qualifications, 10 points for general qualifications and experience, and 50 points for cost proposals. The state requires respondents to demonstrate six years of disability insurance administration experience, including at least five employer accounts with one account having 10,000+ members, and a current Tennessee Certificate of Authority for group disability benefits. Contractor compensation is structured as per-member monthly premiums for STD and LTD coverage, with performance requirements tied to service level agreements and potential liquidated damages for implementation milestone failures and data security breaches.