ESBD_564831_1791234253612_SBA-27-289 Actuarial Services RFQ.pdf

THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Office of Procurement and Business Services

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

ACTUARIAL SERVICES

NUMBER: RFQ-01-SBA-27-289

SUBMITTAL MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE:

2:00 P.M. Central Time on October 23, 2026

EMAIL RFQ RESPONSES TO:

SOPROCUREMENT@TAMUS.EDU

SUBJECT LINE: SBA-27-289 ACTUARIAL SERVICES

NOTE: Submittal must be received by The Texas A&M University System Office of Procurement and Business Services before the date and time specified for receipt of submittal as stated within Section 2.4 of this Request for Qualifications. After the due date and time, only the names of respondents may be made public.

REFER INQUIRIES TO:

Jeff Zimmermann, Executive Director Procurement and Business Services The Texas A&M University System soprocurement@tamus.edu

All submittals shall become the property of The Texas A&M University System and the State of Texas upon receipt. Submittals may be subject to public review after contracts have been executed. Refer to Section 5(G) for more information regarding public information.

mailto:SOPROCUREMENT@TAMUS.EDU mailto:Soprocurement@tamus.edu

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1. GENERAL _________________________________________________________________ 3

SECTION 2. INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESPONDENTS _____________________________________________ 6

SECTION 3. SERVICES REQUIRED ________________________________________________________ 10

SECTION 4. QUALIFICATION SUBMITTAL _________________________________________________ 12

SECTION 5. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS ___________________________________________ 17

Exhibit A – Execution of Offer

Exhibit B – Non-Collusion Affidavit

Exhibit C – Insurance Requirements

Exhibit D – Supplemental Files to RFQ Instructions

Exhibit E – Proposed Cost Worksheet

Exhibit F – Business Associate Agreement Draft

Exhibit G – Services Agreement (draft)

Attachment A – State of Texas Subcontracting Plan (SP) Form

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SECTION 1

GENERAL

1.1 Scope

The Texas A&M University System (“A&M System”) is soliciting qualifications (each a “Qualification Submittal”) from firms (“Respondents”) with an established history of expertise and qualifications to provide actuarial services for its self-insured group health plan, dental, benefits, retirement, and Self- Insured programs administered through the A&M System Office of Risk Management (“SRM”) beginning November 1, 2026.

By submitting a Qualification Submittal, each Respondent certifies that it understands this Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) and has full knowledge of the scope, nature, quality, services to be provided, and the conditions under which the services are to be performed. Each Respondent also certifies that it understands that all costs relating to preparing and responding to this RFQ will be the sole responsibility of the Respondent.

Qualification Submittals shall be in accordance with the terms, conditions, and requirements set forth in this RFQ.

1.2 About the A&M System

The A&M System is one of the largest and most impactful higher education systems in the country, with an annual budget of $9.1 billion. Its statewide network includes 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M–Fort Worth and the Texas A&M–RELLIS campus. The A&M System also plays a direct role in U.S. national security as a member of the teams that manage and operate Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Pantex Plant for the U.S.

Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The A&M System serves approximately 175,000 students and reaches millions more through service, research and outreach programs each year. With nearly $1.6 billion in annual research expenditures, the A&M System fuels innovation, supports communities and drives Texas’ economy forward.

More information about The Texas A&M University System and all of its members can be found at the A&M System About page (https://www.tamus.edu/system/about/).

1.3 Benefits Background

Rudd & Wisdom, Inc. is the current vendor providing actuarial services as defined above in the Scope.

The maximum period of performance for the current contract expires this fall.

The A&M System intends to continue to self-insure the A&M Care health and dental plans, maintaining a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) managed care approach. The prescription drug plan is a carve-out program, providing prescription drug benefits to those enrolled in the A&M Care plans. The A&M Care Plan is available to all benefit-eligible employees, graduate student employees, and retirees. The A&M Care J Plan is only available to those with a J1 or J2 visa. The A&M Care 65 Plus Medicare Advantage Plan PPO is only available to retirees who have Medicare. A risk stabilization reserve fund and an IBNR reserve fund are maintained for the self-insured A&M Care plans.

The A&M System currently contracts with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas for administration of the self-insured health plan, Delta Dental for the self-insured dental plan, and Express Scripts for administration of the self-insured prescription drug plan. The A&M System is required by law to rebid contracts at least every six (6) years.

The A&M System currently has 45,248 benefit-eligible employees and retirees.

Current enrollment in the self-insured A&M Care PPO plan is 27,426. Of those enrolled in the A&M Care plan, 1,872 are retirees. There are 11,215 retirees and covered dependents enrolled in the 65 http://www.tamus.edu/about/ https://www.tamus.edu/system/about/

The Texas A&M University System RFQ-01-SBA-27-289 Page 4 of 46

Plus Medicare Advantage Plan PPO. The A&M Care Plans have a total of 63,889 covered lives, including employees, retirees, survivors, COBRA participants and dependents in the A&M Care plan.

Approximately 30,228 employees and retirees and another 24,085 dependents are covered by the A&M System’s self-insured dental PPO plan administered by Delta Dental which is available to all benefit-eligible employees, graduate student employees, and retirees. In addition, a fully insured dental Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan is available in specific areas throughout the State. The dental HMO plan has approximately 4,070 employees, graduate student employees, and retirees.

The A&M System’s plan year corresponds to the state of Texas and A&M System fiscal years which begin on September 1 and end on August 31. Potential plan design changes are researched and discussed each year between September and April. Annual enrollment for employees and retirees takes place during July of each year. An actuarial analysis for the self-insured health and dental plans is performed each spring to set premiums, and a recalculation of the IBNR reserve is completed each September/October.

All benefit eligible employees of the A&M System are required, as a condition of employment, to participate in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), a state sponsored defined benefit program, unless they qualify for and elect to participate in the Optional Retirement Program (ORP).

This is a defined contribution 403(b) Program generally available to faculty and high-level administrators, in lieu of the TRS for an employee’s mandatory retirement contributions.

The A&M System also offers two voluntary supplemental retirement programs. The Tax-Deferred Account (TDA) which is a 403(b) defined contribution plan administered by the A&M System, and the Texa$aver 457 Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS). Both voluntary programs consist of employee contributions only and are available to every A&M System employee.

In addition to the A&M Care self-insured PPO health plan, a fully insured PPO health and prescription drug plan is also available as an option to graduate student employees and their dependents. Most graduate student employees elect to enroll in the Graduate Student Health Plan rather than the A&M Care plan because of its lower premiums.

Respondents may link to the System Benefits Administration website at https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/ to review details of the current health plans offered by the A&M System.

The Texas A&M University System Workers Compensation, Auto and Property programs are self-funded and considered funded liability pools. The A&M System self-administers WCI Worker’s Compensation, auto and property claims, Origami is the Risk Management Information System (RMIS) being used to collect and store all claim information. These self-funded programs provide claim servicing and claim payments by charging a cost allocation assessment to each System Member based on a percentage of payroll, number of vehicles in each Members fleet and total incurred property losses. Actuarial results, performed by a credentialed 3rd party, will help maintain and validate the financial stability of each program.

1.4 Purpose

This RFQ provides detailed information about the A&M System and its benefit needs and provides the required format for the vendor’s Qualification Submittal. Qualification Submittals containing deviations are strongly discouraged. If included, deviations must be identified and described in detail in order to be considered. While a Qualification Submittal with minor deviations from the RFQ will not be disqualified, preference will be given to prospective vendors whose Qualification Submittals contain the fewest and least significant deviations from the requirements presented herein.

https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/

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The intent of this RFQ is to allow all prospective and interested Respondents to provide adequate information and data that will enable the A&M System to assess the qualifications of the Respondent.

To this end, each Respondent shall furnish, as a part of the qualifications, a complete general description of experience in their respective fields.

Respondent is to independently investigate and verify, at its own discretion, all information acquired from the A&M System or from any other source which is relied on by Respondent in the preparation of its Qualification Submittal.

1.5 Priorities/Expectations

(a) Ensuring a Quality Level of Service. This priority encompasses the quality of the level of service that can be provided to A&M System in a timely, cost-effective manner. A&M System is seeking a Respondent that will ensure the provision of such quality in its delivery of service through proven techniques and established practices.

(b) Level of Experience and Expertise. Respondent must demonstrate their capabilities in providing the utmost level of experience and expertise to ensure a successful provision of services as determined by A&M System.

(c) Delivery Efficiency. Respondent must demonstrate their ability to deliver the required services in a timely manner while not sacrificing the quality required by A&M System.

1.6 Performance Period

Should A&M System, in its sole discretion, enter into an Agreement with the successful Respondent as a result of this RFQ, the initial term of any such Agreement will continue for three (3) years from the effective date, with the option to extend up to three (3) additional years, upon mutual written agreement executed by authorized representatives of both parties. Any extensions shall be at the same terms and conditions plus any approved changes to be determined by the A&M System and negotiated in writing with the successful Respondent. The maximum period of performance pursuant to this RFQ including the initial terms and any renewals ends October 31, 2029. The A&M System reserves the right to amend the terms of the Agreement as necessary to meet state or federal requirements.

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SECTION 2

INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESPONDENTS

2.1 General Information

The A&M System is soliciting Qualification Submittals from Respondents who have experience in actuarial services, preferably with institutions or agencies of the State of Texas. These basic Services are outlined in Section 3 – Services Required. The Respondent selected shall have an excellent track record for providing these services relative to the size and scope of the various needs of the A&M System and shall agree to provide these services to A&M System with a top priority commitment.

This RFQ outlines requirements as specified in Section 3. Submittals are to be in accordance with the requirements and terms contained herein, are to remain in effect a minimum of 120 days from the date of submission and may be subject to further extensions as negotiated. A statement to this effect should be contained in the Respondent's cover letter.

This RFQ contains specific requests for information. Respondents are encouraged to examine all sections of this RFQ carefully, in that the degree of interrelationship between sections is critical. In responding to this RFQ, Respondents are encouraged to provide any additional information they believe relevant.

Clause headings appearing in this RFQ have been inserted for convenience and ready reference. They do not purport to define, limit or extend the scope or intent of the respective clauses. Whenever the terms “must", "shall", "will", "is required”, or "are required” are used in the RFQ, the subject being referred to is to be a required feature of this RFQ and critical to the resulting Qualification Submittal.

In those cases where mandatory requirements are stated, material failure to meet those requirements could result in disqualification of the Respondent's Submittal (defined below). Any deviation or exception from RFQ specifications must be clearly identified by the Respondent in its Submittal.

2.2 Calendar of Events

Release of RFQ ............................................................................................... October 5, 2026 Deadline to Submit Questions ....................................................................... October 9, 2026 Release of Addendum (if applicable) ........................................................... October 14, 2026 Deadline for Receiving Qualification Submittals ......................................... October 23, 2026 Anticipated Award Date ............................................................................... October 29, 2026 Agreement Effective Date .......................................................................... November 1, 2026

The A&M System will make every effort to adhere to the above schedule. The schedule, however, is subject to change. Schedule changes may be necessary for various reasons including but not limited to the need for further clarification of Qualification Submittals or contract terms are in the best interest of the A&M System, and/or in the event the A&M System requires more time to ensure that the selection of the Respondent is in accordance with its policies, rules and regulations, as well as actual timing needs.

2.3 Examination of the Request for Qualifications

Before submitting, each Respondent will be held to have examined the A&M System requirements outlined throughout this RFQ and satisfied itself as to the existing conditions under which it will be obligated to perform in accordance with specifications of this RFQ.

No claim for additional compensation will be allowed due to unfamiliarity with the specifications and/or existing conditions. It shall be understood that the Respondent has full knowledge of all of the existing and/or revised conditions and accepts them "as is."

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2.4 Submittal Instructions and Delivery of Submittals

All Submittals must be received by A&M System no later than 2:00:00 p.m. Central Time, October 23, 2026, electronically via email to soprocurement@tamus.edu with the subject line of “SBA-27-289 – Consultant and Actuarial Services”. The sent time indicated within the A&M System email server shall be used for the receipt and acceptance of the Submittal. Late Submittals will not be considered under any circumstances.

A file sharing tool may be used for the Submittal if large file sizes are an issue. If opting to use a file sharing tool it is recommended to send a test file prior to the due date.

Submittal Format: The Submittal shall be saved as two (2) separate files in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) according to the items listed below and named as such; I) “company name – Qualification Statement”, II) “company name – Forms”.

2.5 Submittal Components

The following documents are to be returned as part of your Qualification Submittal. Failure to include these sections/documents may be basis for disqualification.

I. Qualifications

Table of Contents

Qualification Statement, Section 4.1

Company Profile, Section 4.2

II. Forms

Execution of Offer – Exhibit A, signed

Non-Collusion Affidavit – Exhibit B, signed and notarized

Proposed Cost Worksheet, Section 4.3 – Exhibit E

State of Texas Subcontracting Plan, Section 4.4 – Attachment A

Qualification Statement shall consist of answers to questions identified in Section 4.1 of the RFQ. It is not necessary to repeat the question in the Qualification Statement; however, it is essential to reference the question number with the corresponding answer.

Failure to comply with all requirements contained in this RFQ may result in the rejection of the Submittal.

Note: Additional information regarding the Execution of Offer and Non-Collusion Affidavit.

• Execution of Offer: The signature in the Execution of Offer within the electronic copy shall serve as the official signature of record. Signature can be done electronically with DocuSign, Adobe or another similar tool.

• Non-Collusion Affidavit: The Respondent signature and notary on this document may be done electronically with DocuSign, Adobe or another similar tool. An Agreement may not be executed with an awarded Respondent until this document is fully signed and notarized.

2.6 Inquiries and Interpretations

All questions concerning this RFQ are to be directed, in writing, to Jeff Zimmermann at soprocurement@tamus.edu. Respondents may not contact other individuals at the A&M System to discuss any aspect of this RFQ, unless expressly authorized by the A&M System office of Procurement & Business Services to do so.

mailto:soprocurement@tamus.edu mailto:soprocurement@tamus.edu

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Responses to inquiries which directly affect an interpretation or change to this RFQ will be issued in writing by addendum according to the schedule in Section 2.2 and posted to the Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD).

http://www.txsmartbuy.com/sp (Input Agency Number “710” and select “Posted” for the Status)

All such addenda/amendments issued by the A&M System prior to the time that Qualification Submittals are received shall be considered part of the RFQ, and the Respondent shall consider and acknowledge receipt of such in their Execution of Offer (Exhibit A). Only those A&M System replied to inquiries which are made by formal written addenda shall be binding. Oral and other interpretations or clarification will be without legal effect.

2.7 Selection Process

The evaluation of the Qualification Submittals shall be based on the information provided and the Respondent’s demonstrated competence and qualifications to perform the Services. The RFQ provides the information necessary to prepare and submit Qualification Submittals for consideration by A&M System. All properly submitted Qualification Submittals will be reviewed, evaluated, and ranked by A&M System. A&M System may interview one or more of the top ranked Respondents as part of the evaluation process.

A&M System will base its choice on criteria to include, but not be limited to, the following: compliance with stated requirements, demonstrated competence, capability, experience, knowledge, references, qualifications of the Respondent as related to the Services required in this RFQ, and any other information provided within the Qualification Statement. Demonstrated past experience with agencies or institutions of the State of Texas may be given preference. If other considerations are equal, A&M System may give preference to Respondents whose principal place of business is in the State of Texas, or who will manage the contract wholly from an office in the State of Texas, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

While the criteria shall provide the basis for an objective evaluation of each response, the experience and judgment of the System Benefits Administration (SBA) staff and the evaluation committee shall also be important in the selection process.

After tabulation of the Qualification Submittals and such investigation of Respondents as the A&M System deems appropriate, an award may be made to the Respondent whose Qualification Submittal it judges to represent the best value to the A&M System. Final determination for award of the contract will be made on the overall best value to the A&M System. The A&M System reserves the right to reject any or all Qualification Submittals.

A&M System may cancel this RFQ or reject Qualification Submittals at any time prior to an award and is not required to furnish a statement of the reasons why a particular Submittal was not selected.

Should A&M System determine in its sole discretion that only one Respondent is fully qualified, or that one Respondent is clearly more highly qualified than the others under consideration, a contract may be negotiated and executed with that Respondent. The contract will be an Agreement incorporating by reference all the requirements, terms and conditions of the solicitation and the Respondent’s Submittal as negotiated.

By submitting its Qualification Submittals in response to this RFQ, Respondent accepts the evaluation process and acknowledges and accepts that determinations regarding demonstrated competence and qualifications will require subjective judgments by A&M System.

The selection of the successful Respondent(s) may be made by A&M System on the basis of the Qualification Submittals initially submitted, without discussion, clarification, or modification. In the alternative, selection of the successful Respondent(s) may be made by A&M System on the basis of discussions or negotiations with one or more of the most highly qualified Respondents. A&M System http://www.txsmartbuy.com/sp

The Texas A&M University System RFQ-01-SBA-27-289 Page 9 of 46 shall not disclose any information derived from the Qualification Submittals submitted by competing Respondents in conducting such discussions.

All Submittals must be complete and convey all of the information requested to be considered responsive. If a Submittal fails to conform to the essential requirements of this RFQ, A&M System alone will determine whether the variance is minor enough to consider the Submittal acceptable, and therefore a candidate for further consideration, or significant enough to consider the Submittal not acceptable and therefore not considered for award.

A&M System may perform reference checks and seek further information, as needed from all Respondents whose Submittal A&M System, at its discretion, considers viable, based on the initial evaluation. The Respondent’s response to this requirement officially authorizes A&M System to contact these organizations to discuss the Services and other considerations which the Respondent has provided to such organizations and authorizes the organizations to provide such information to A&M System and Respondent shall and hereby does release and hold harmless A&M System, the state of Texas, and the organization of any and all liability whatsoever, in connection with providing and receiving all such information. Any negative responses received from reference checks may be grounds for disqualification of the Submittal.

A&M System reserves the right to reject any or all Qualification Submittals and re-solicit, or to reject any or all Qualification Submittals and temporarily or permanently abandon this RFQ process. A&M System makes no representations, written or oral, that it will enter into any form of agreement with any Respondent to this RFQ and no such representation is intended or should be construed by the issuance of this RFQ.

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SECTION 3

SERVICES REQUIRED

3.1 Scope

The scope of this RFQ includes actuarial services for its self-insured group health plan, dental, benefits, retirement, and Self-Insured programs administered by SRM. This RFQ provides detailed information about the A&M System and provides the required format for the Respondent’s Submittal. Deviations from the specifications outlined are not anticipated, although the A&M System will consider any such deviations that it deems are in its best interest.

3.2 Actuarial Services

Task 1. Annual actuarial analysis of the self-insured health, prescription drug, and dental plans

Perform actuarial analyses for the A&M System self-insured health, prescription drug, and dental plans. This includes recommendations regarding plan design changes and projection of their cost to the plan, annual actuarial pricing of the plan premiums (February – May), presentation of the annual pricing of plan premiums to SEBAC (April – May), and annual determination of the appropriate IBNR reserving level (September – October).

System Benefits Administration (SBA) staff provides enrollment, paid claims, lag reports, utilization reports, plan design changes, and any additional source data necessary for the annual actuarial pricing and for the IBNR calculation.

A copy of the most recent Annual Actuarial Pricing and IBNR Reserve Estimate documents are being provided as an example of the deliverables for this task. They are separate Adobe files that you should have downloaded from the Electronic State Business Daily along with the RFQ. Exhibit D provides further information about downloading these files.

Task 2. Annual Actuarial and Rating Analysis of Self-Insured Programs

System Risk Management may request actuarial analysis of its self-insured and risk-financed programs, including Workers’ Compensation Insurance (WCI), Automobile Liability/Physical Damage, Prescribed Burn Liability, and other programs or projects as needed.

Services may include analysis of historical loss and exposure data, development of indicated funding or rate levels, loss projections, reserve and Incurred But Not Reported (IBNR) estimates, allocation methodologies, and other actuarial or financial analyses necessary to support the administration and funding of System Risk Management programs.

System Risk Management staff will provide the selected vendor with the available loss, exposure, payroll, vehicle, property, or other source data necessary to perform the requested analysis.

The selected vendor may also be asked to assist System Risk Management with the development or evaluation of rates for new or existing self-insured programs, changes in program structure, or other special projects requiring actuarial analysis.

Task 3. Annual valuation services in relation to Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) calculation which must comply with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB)

To include preparation of actuarial assumptions, preparation of actuarial analysis for post-retirement plan, complete accounting requirements, and reporting of results. A full valuation may be needed. In subsequent years, a roll-forward actuarial estimate may be determined to be appropriate.

A copy of the most recent Actuarial Valuation of OPEB document is being provided as an example of the deliverable for this task. It is a separate Adobe file that you should have downloaded from the Electronic State Business Daily along with the RFQ. Exhibit D provides further information about downloading this file.

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Respondents may link to the System Benefits Administration website at http://tamus.edu/benefits/ to review the details of the current health, benefit, and retirement plans offered by the A&M System and may review the Office of Risk Management and Safety’s program website by linking to http://www.tamus.edu/business/risk-management.

3.3 Additional Actuarial Services

Potential Projects

In the event the A&M System identifies a project, outside the scope of the tasks described in Section

3.2 above, for which additional actuarial services are required, the A&M System may develop a specific scope of work and request a quote. A timeline, along with billing and payment terms will be defined at that point. No specific projects are currently planned, but the following are provided as examples of special projects that have been performed in the past under the current relationship.

• Administrative review and claims audit of the self-insured medical third party administrator

• Review Texas Pharmacy Initiative Analyses and findings

• Prescription Drug Surveys

• Legislative Evaluation http://tamus.edu/benefits/ http://www.tamus.edu/business/risk-management

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SECTION 4

QUALIFICATION SUBMITTAL

Respondents shall carefully read the information herein and submit a complete Qualification Submittal responding to all items listed below. Incomplete Qualification Submittals and Qualification Statements may be considered non-responsive and subject to rejection.

4.1 Qualification Statement

Respondents are instructed to provide the content and in the format as stated below (a-i) in order to expedite analysis and comparison of Qualification Statements received. Failure to use the stated format or failure to provide complete Qualification Statements, may, at the A&M System’s option, disqualify the Respondent.

A complete Qualification Statement shall consist of the following items:

a. Table of Contents

b. Cover Letter – This letter shall summarize interest and ability to provide the scope of this RFQ, include a statement to the validity of the Qualification Submittal, and provide a contact name for inquiries and correspondence regarding your Qualification Submittal , including title, address, telephone number, facsimile, and email address.

c. Certification

All entities responding to this RFQ must certify eligibility to contract with the State or any of its subdivisions to the following items:

• Certify that the responding organization in its employment and promotion policies does not discriminate against any of the following classes:

o Women: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Executive Order 11246 of 1965, as amended o Pregnant Women: Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, PL95-555 o Racial Minorities: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended o Aged and Retired: Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended; Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1983 (TEFRA); Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 (DEFRA);

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (COBRA) o Disabled Individuals and those with catastrophic and terminal diseases: Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

• In the interest of safeguarding our employees’ protected health information, the A&M System will require the execution of a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement documenting the selected Respondents’s compliance with both the privacy and security rules as set forth by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The Business Associate Agreement is attached as Exhibit F for your reference. This document is not needed with your Qualification Submittal.

d. Qualifications and Experience

The individuals assigned to this account and the supporting team members should have:

• Proper credentials

• Demonstrated depth/breadth of understanding of the employee benefits industry.

• Knowledge of state and federal laws relating to health, benefit, retirement and self-insured risk management plans

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• Successful experience in providing actuarial services and conducting similar projects for large multi-location employers

Respondent shall provide a response to each of the following items:

1. Project Staffing - Provide detailed credentials of everyone who will be assigned to this account. Include personal resumes and specific references for similar projects, for each person who will work directly with the A&M System or have primary responsibility for this project. For each key team member, specifically identify:

• All actuarial designations held (e.g., FSA, ASA, FCAS, ACAS, MAAA, EA, FCA) and year attained

• The specific Task(s) in Section 3.2 to which each individual will be assigned

• Continuing education status and any specialty certifications relevant to governmental or public-sector actuarial work

Indicate how many other clients these key members of the project staff work with on a regular basis and/or have primary responsibility for assisting. Identify all individuals who will provide support to the project including their location, position, specific responsibilities, educational background, experience, and technical capabilities. Provide a comprehensive organizational chart that includes everyone who will be responsible for or provide support to the project.

2. Public Employer Experience - Identify at least two institutions of higher education, state government, or other public employer plans for which you have performed similar services.

Describe the service performed, results obtained and current status of the project. Provide the name, title, email address and telephone number of your key contact(s) at the organization. The A&M System may contact these employers at its discretion. The provision of the name of an employer will constitute a release to contact the employer for pertinent information. Emphasis should be given to any projects related to Texas higher education institutions, state agencies, or similar entities in other states.

3. General Experience - Provide a list of at least two employers (other than those listed in Section

f. 2) above) with whom you have or have had a similar actuarial relationship. Describe the service performed, results obtained and current status of the project. The list should include the name, title, email address and telephone number of representatives who are familiar with the vendor’s work.

Also, provide the name, title, email address and telephone number of representatives of at least two additional employers for whom you have performed similar projects, but with whom you are no longer working. Describe the service performed and results obtained. These employers may be contacted at the discretion of the A&M System. The provision of the name of an employer by the applicant organization will constitute a release to contact the employer for pertinent information.

4. Health, Prescription Drug and Dental Actuarial Experience – Describe your firm's experience performing annual actuarial pricing, plan design modeling, and IBNR reserve estimation for self-insured medical, prescription drug, and dental plans of comparable size and complexity to the A&M System. Specifically address:

• Your methodology for annual premium development and trend selection

• Your approach to IBNR reserve estimation and the models/methods typically used

• Experience working with BlueCross BlueShield of Texas, Express Scripts, and Delta

Dental (or comparable carriers/PBMs/TPAs)

• Detailed knowledge of health care and prescription drug claim systems, including state-of-the-art systems and systems under development, and whether your firm owns, has a

The Texas A&M University System RFQ-01-SBA-27-289 Page 14 of 46 partial interest in, markets, or operates any claim payment or data management systems

• Experience presenting annual pricing recommendations to governing boards, benefits advisory committees, or similar bodies

5. Property/Casualty and Risk Management Actuarial Experience – Describe your firm's experience providing actuarial services to self-insured and self-funded property/casualty programs for public employers or liability pools, specifically addressing the program types administered by A&M System Risk Management: Workers' Compensation, Automobile Liability and Physical Damage, Prescribed Burn Liability, and Property. Your response should address:

• Experience developing loss projections, reserve estimates, and IBNR estimates for each line of coverage listed above

• Methodologies used for rate development and funding level recommendations for self-insured P&C programs

• Experience designing or evaluating cost allocation methodologies (e.g., allocation based on payroll, vehicle count, or incurred property losses, as currently used by the A&M System)

• Experience working with Risk Management Information Systems (RMIS), particularly Origami, which the A&M System currently uses

• Experience with new program development or restructuring of existing self-insured programs

• Credentials of the specific team members (FCAS/ACAS/MAAA) who would perform this work

6. OPEB/GASB Valuation Experience – Describe your firm's experience performing actuarial valuations of Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) for public employers in compliance with Governmental Accounting Standards Board standards. Your response should address:

• Number of GASB 74/75 (and predecessor GASB 43/45) valuations performed in each of the last three years

• Experience with public higher education systems, state agencies, or similarly situated governmental employers

• Your methodology for developing actuarial assumptions appropriate to a public higher education system, including discount rate selection, healthcare cost trend, mortality tables, and demographic assumptions

• Approach to full valuations versus roll-forward estimates, including the criteria your firm uses to recommend when a full valuation is warranted versus a roll-forward

• Experience coordinating OPEB valuation deliverables with external financial auditors

• Credentials of the specific team members (ASA/FSA, EA, MAAA) who would perform this work

• Provide a sample redacted OPEB valuation report that would be representative of the deliverable for Task 3 from Section 3.2

7. Plan Financial Management - Discuss your experience with various mwthods for self-insured health care, prescription drug , dental, and property/casualty (including Workers’ Compensation) programs, and any creative funding methods you have developed for complex self-insured arrangements. Discuss the pros and cons of various approaches as they relate to the A&M System’s situation, including risk stabilization reserves, IBNR reserves, confidence

The Texas A&M University System RFQ-01-SBA-27-289 Page 15 of 46 levels for P&C funding, unusual risks, and special legal requirements.Discuss successful performance measures/criteria you have implemented with carriers,PBMs, and TPAs.

8. Plan Design - Describe your capabilities regarding plan design as it relates to the management of health care plans. Explain your ability to model and project the cost impact of proposed plan design changes including any tools that are accessible to clients for this purpose. From whom do you obtain advice about the tax-related issues of benefit plans? Describe any client-facing modeling tools, dashboards, or portals that A&M System staff would have access to during the engagement.

e. Confidential and Proprietary Information – In order to protect and prevent inadvertent access to confidential information submitted in the Qualification Submittal, the Respondent is to provide a schedule of all pages that the Respondent in good faith, and with legally sufficient due diligence, considers to contain any confidential and/or proprietary information.

Information in any tangible form which is submitted by Respondents will be treated as confidential until such time as a contract is executed. After that time, the A&M System is required to provide access to certain records in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 552, Tex.

Government Code, now known as the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), formerly known as the Open Records Act. By submitting a Qualification Submittal, the Respondent acknowledges and agrees that the A&M System shall have no liability to the Respondent or to any other person or entity for disclosing information in accordance with the TPIA. The A&M System shall not have any obligation or duty to advocate the confidentiality of the Respondent’s material to the Texas Attorney General or to any other person or entity. The Respondent further understands and agrees that upon the A&M System’s receipt of a TPIA request for a copy of the Respondent contract, including the Qualification Submittal and any exhibits to the contract and response, the only documents that the A&M System shall treat as the Respondent’s confidential and proprietary information shall be the documents the Respondent identifies as required above. It is the Respondent’s sole obligation to advocate in good faith the confidential or proprietary nature of any information it provides in its Qualification Submittal, and the Respondent understands that the Texas Attorney General may nonetheless determine that all or part of the claimed confidential or proprietary information shall be publicly disclosed.

f. Deviations – In an effort to compare “apples to apples”, deviations to the RFQ are strongly discouraged. The Respondent shall enumerate and provide a detailed description of any deviations to provisions contained in the RFQ. If your organization is unable to perform any of the required services please provide details.

4.2 Company Profile

a. Please provide the following:

• Legal Name

• DBA Name

• Number of Years in Business

• Type of Operation (i.e., Individual, Partnership, Corporation)

• Number of Employees

• Annual Revenues

b. Provide a general overview of the company, including where the company is headquartered, if it has a major base of operation in Texas, and if it has operated under other names.

c. Include a narrative history of the firm and its background in health, benefit, retirement and self-insured risk management plan administration. Explain the added value or service that your

The Texas A&M University System RFQ-01-SBA-27-289 Page 16 of 46 organization provides that distinguishes it from all others. Explain your organization’s general philosophy regarding health care and benefit management.

d. Financial Stability. Respondent shall provide the following to verify financial stability:

• A copy of your company’s audited financial statements for the past two (2) years; or

• A financial rating of your company and any documentation (such as a Dunn and Bradstreet Analysis) which indicates the financial stability of your company.

e. Describe your company’s disaster recovery and contingency plans. Have you ever tested or actually implemented these plans?

f. Is your company currently for sale or involved in any transaction to expand or to become acquired by another business entity? If yes, please explain the impact both in organizational and directional terms.

g. Provide details of all past or pending litigation or claims filed against your company that would negatively impact your company’s performance under an agreement with the A&M System.

h. Is your company currently in default on any loan agreement or financing agreement with any bank, financial institution, or other entity. If yes, specify date(s), details, circumstances, and prospects for resolution.

4.3 Proposed Cost Worksheet

Respondent shall provide the information in Exhibit E.

4.4 State of Texas Subcontracting Plan Requirements

The Veteran Heroes United in Business program (VetHUB or HUB) as part of the state of Texas Comptroller’s Statewide Procurement Division focuses on certification of service-disabled veterans (SDV) to facilitate their growth and development and increase opportunities for contracts and subcontracts with the state of Texas. For additional information on the VetHUB program visit the following site: https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/vendor/hub/hub-faq.php.

The A&M System requires a state of Texas Subcontracting Plan (SP) for contracts of $100,000 or more over the life of the contract (including any renewals and amendments), where such opportunities exist. The total expected value of this solicitation and subsequent contract is $100,000 or more and the A&M System has determined that subcontracting opportunities are probable. Therefore, Respondents to this RFQ are required to develop and submit a completed Subcontracting Plan form with their Submittal. (Texas Government Code Chapter 2161, Subchapter F; 34 Texas Administrative Code Section 20.285)

A subcontracting opportunity is defined as any portion or lot of work that the Respondent cannot complete with its own equipment, supplies, materials, and/or employees. The Respondents will use the procedures prescribed below when completing the SP form.

The Respondent shall use the CMBL/VetHUB directory published on the comptroller’s website to identify VetHUBs. If the Respondent uses any alternate source, it accepts the risk that its subcontracting plan may be noncompliant due to inaccurate VetHUB certification information. A business listed in the VetHUB directory at the time of the good faith effort is considered a VetHUB for purposes of evaluating a subcontracting plan, even if the business later graduates or has its VetHUB status revoked or expired. The VetHUB directory can be accessed via the following site:

https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/tpasscmblsearch/index.jsp

The A&M System VetHUB Program Office will review the information and documentation submitted and use it as a basis to determine if the plan was developed in good faith effort by the Respondent to utilize VetHUB subcontractors and/or suppliers on this project. The A&M System may reject a SP that https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/vendor/hub/hub-faq.php https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/tpasscmblsearch/index.jsp

The Texas A&M University System RFQ-01-SBA-27-289 Page 17 of 46 was not developed in good faith or was not completed. The A&M System shall document the reasons for rejection in the contract file. If the A&M System finds that businesses identified in a SP are no longer VetHUBs, it may invite the Respondent to submit a revised plan that identifies active VetHUBs.

An accepted SP form will become a part of any contract with the Respondent resulting from this solicitation. The Respondent must amend its SP if there is any change in its planned subcontracting during the performance of the contract. Any revisions to the SP must be approved by the A&M System VetHUB Program Office.

Procedures for Completing the SP Form

The A&M System requires the Respondent to submit an SP form for this RFQ. The SP form must include all subconsultants, suppliers, subcontractors, and vendors intended to be included in the Respondent’s team. The A&M System has set a VetHUB goal of 2% for this solicitation.

In accordance with 34 TAC §20.285, as adopted the Respondent must demonstrate its good faith development of a subcontracting plan by either inviting small businesses to bid for subcontracts (the solicitation method) or stating that it does not intend to subcontract (the self-performing method).

These two methods are further described within the SP form.

The SP form to be used for this RFQ is included as Attachment A with information included in the instructions on page 1. Respondent must complete the SP according to the instructions within the form based on the applicable method. The SP form is also available on the following site:

https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/vendor/hub/forms.php

State of Texas Subcontracting Plan (SP) Guidance:

To assist Respondents in completing the required State of Texas Subcontracting Plan (SP) form, the Office of Procurement & Business Services has developed a brief tutorial addressing common errors and questions. The video may be accessed using the following link: How to Complete the State of Texas Subcontracting Plan (SP) Form. Respondents are strongly encouraged to review the tutorial before submitting their SP form to help ensure accuracy and completeness.

For more information or assistance in properly completing the SP form for this RFQ, the Respondent may contact the A&M System at SO-HUBProgram@tamus.edu. Each Respondent is encouraged to submit a draft of their SP form prior to submitting their Qualification Submittal to the RFQ for review by the A&M System. To permit adequate time for the performance of the required good faith effort, we request that all drafts be submitted at least ten (10) business days prior to the RFQ due date.

https://texas-sos.appianportalsgov.com/rules-and-meetings?$locale=en_US&interface=VIEW_TAC_SUMMARY&queryAsDate=05%2F12%2F2026&recordId=228524 https://comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/vendor/hub/forms.php https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKJgsPnqH2w&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKJgsPnqH2w&feature=youtu.be mailto:SO-HUBProgram@tamus.edu

The Texas A&M University System RFQ-01-SBA-27-289 Page 18 of 46

SECTION 5

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

A. TERMS AND CONDITIONS: A&M System reserves the right to accept, reject, modify, and/or negotiate any and all Qualification Submittals received in conjunction with this RFQ. It reserves the right to waive any defect or informality in the Qualification Submittals on the basis of what it considers to be in its best interests. Any Qualification Submittal which A&M System determines to be incomplete, conditional, obscure, or which has irregularities of any kind, may be rejected. A&M System reserves the right to award to the company, which in our sole judgment, will best serve our long-term interest.

This RFQ in no manner obligates A&M System to the eventual purchase of any products or services described, implied, or which may be proposed, until confirmed by written agreement, and may be terminated by A&M System without penalty or obligation at any time prior to the signing of a contract.

The Respondent must…