PreProposal Conference Executive Recruitment Firm - 2026_03_11 12_56 EDT - Notes by Gemini.docx

Mar 11, 2026 PreProposal Conference Executive Recruitment Firm Invited Michele Eberle Shirelle Green Tony Armiger Charles Mensah Attachments PreProposal Conference Executive Recruitment Firm PreProposal Conference Executive Recruitment Firm - 2026/03/11 12:56 EDT - Recording PreProposal Conference Executive Recruitment Firm - 2026/03/11 12:56 EDT - Chat Meeting records Recording

Summary Pre-proposal conference clarified MHBE executive director minimum qualifications and extended the RFP due date.

Executive Director Qualifications Defined The conference highlighted minimum qualifications, requiring the offeror to document 5 years of successful executive-level recruitment experience and provide 1 or more verifiable references from the past 5 years. The executive director role is unique, requiring specific knowledge of rate setting, insurance carriers, federal and state law, and financial understanding for the integrated health exchange.

RFP Amendments and Clarifications MHBE issued 2 amendments, extending the RFP due date to March 31st, 2026, at 8:00 AM, and confirming the pre-proposal conference. Clarification was given that Attachment L, regarding references, refers to directions on where to place the references within the technical proposal.

Search Firm Scope and Procurement The search firm is expected to facilitate advertisement, narrow the search, and send MHBE a minimum of 3 top candidates, with the Board of Trustees handling the final selection. Technical proposals will outweigh financial proposals in determining the best value for the executive search firm.

Details

· Introduction and Purpose of Pre-Proposal Conference: The pre-proposal conference was convened because MHBE is seeking a firm to help them recruit a new executive director. Shirelle Green, Michele Eberle (Executive Director), and Tony Armiger (Chief Financial Officer) introduced themselves, and all attendees present appeared to have read the Request for Proposal (RFP).

· Minimum Qualifications for Offerors: Shirelle Green highlighted the minimum qualifications required in Section 1 of the RFP, stating that the offeror must document five years of experience providing executive-level recruitment successfully. The offeror must also provide one or more references from the past five years that can collectively attest to the required experience, and these references must include the company name, duration of services, email address, telephone number, and contact personnel.

· Background on the MHBE Executive Director Role: The executive director is the chief executive officer of the MHBE exchange, responsible for the strategic direction, leadership, and oversight of administrative services, financial management, and information technology areas. The exchange enrolls over 250,000 individual health members, 61,000 dental members, and 1.1 million Medicaid members annually.

· RFP Amendments and Due Date Extension: MHBE issued one amendment that extended the due date for the RFP until March 31st, 2026, at 8:00 AM. A second amendment was issued to offer the pre-proposal conference, allowing participants to discuss questions, concerns about the recruitment process, the timeline, and MHBE's expectations.

· Clarification Regarding Attachment L (References): Mercy Nadigotla asked for clarification on Attachment L, the references section. Shirelle Green clarified that "Tab L" is not a separate form but rather directions found at the end of the RFP body, outlining where to place the references within their technical proposal.

· Inquiry on Executive Director Tenure and Retirement: B Toe asked how long the executive director position had been open and what happened to the previous candidate. Shirelle Green explained that Michele Eberle, the current executive director, was on the line and would be retiring after serving in the position since 2017.

· Insights into the Executive Director Position: Michele Eberle stated that the best part of their job is the mission-oriented team, which is focused on bringing healthcare to Marylanders. The hardest part of the job involves having to manage different political issues that act as roadblocks to providing health coverage for Marylanders.

· Required Experience for the Unique Role: Michele Eberle described the role as unique, being one of 21 state-based marketplaces in the nation created under the Affordable Care Act, and noted that the Maryland system is integrated and manages Medicaid coverage alongside private insurance. The role requires specific knowledge of rate setting, insurance carriers, the broker community, federal and state law, consumer assistance, and financial understanding.

· Federal Engagement and Funding Components: B Toe inquired about the percentage of the executive director's work that touches on the federal side. Tony Armiger added that 85% to 88% of the people in the exchange are Medicaid, which is federally supported. Michele Eberle confirmed that they work with federal partners at least weekly, if not daily, in their day-to-day operations.

· Scope of Work for the Executive Search Firm: B Toe questioned whether MHBE was looking for a firm to handle the entire recruitment life cycle or just provide a list of candidates. Shirelle Green clarified that the selected firm is expected to facilitate advertisement for the position, narrow down the search, and send MHBE at least three top, best candidates. The Board of Trustees is responsible for conducting interviews and the final selection of the next executive director.

· Contract Type and Procurement Process: Shirelle Green confirmed that the contract to hire the executive search firm was previously executed as a fixed-price contract. The firm's work starts once the recommendation for award is issued, and the clock starts running based on the timeline outlined in the RFP.

· Executive Director's Pre-Government Experience: When asked about their professional background before supporting the government, Michele Eberle confirmed that they came from the private sector and had experience in insurance, nonprofits, and Information Technology. Shirelle Green noted that the advertisement is a global search but that the DMV area has a very good pool of potential candidates.

· Handling Agency-Referred Candidates: Shirelle Green asked how the search firm would handle candidates that MHBE thinks might be a good fit. B Toe affirmed that their agency could vet these candidates according to MHBE's criteria, noting that their vetting process is thorough and goes back a minimum of 10 years.

· Proposal Submission and Evaluation: Technical and financial proposals must be separated, with each placed under a different tab in Emma, as it is a competitive sale process. In the procurement evaluation process, the technical proposal will outweigh the financial proposal in determining the best value for an executive search firm.

· Conclusion and Final Reminders: The pre-proposal conference concluded with a reminder that attendees can still send follow-up questions via email, and the transcript of the recording will be posted on Emma. Attendees were reminded that the final closing date for proposals is March 31st.

Suggested next steps

· [Shirelle Green -MHBE-] Answer Emails: Address all questions and concerns received via email after the conference.

· [The group] Post Transcript: Upload the recording transcript to the Emma website for reference.

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