Request for Information_GMC Vientiane 2026.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Group LE Staff Health Insurance for U.S. Embassy Vientiane

1.0 Description

1.1 The U.S. Embassy Vientiane is seeking information on how any interested contractor could provide health insurance coverage for local employees at the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane, Laos. Coverage needs at a minimum must include hospitals and facilities in both Laos and Thailand.

1.2 THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, U.S. Embassy Vientiane is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondees are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the SAM.gov website. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

2.0 Background

The U.S. Embassy in Vientiane is conducting market research to better understand the capabilities and availability of vendors to provide health insurance for local employees in Laos. This is a new requirement, so we are looking for information on available providers, estimated costs, off the shelf options, and standard health insurance practices in Laos and the region.

2.1 Planned Award: Estimated late 2027

2.2 Delivery Period: 1 year plus 4 options years. Start date TBD.

2.3 Estimated number of Employees: 280 Spouses: 225 Children: 650

3.0 Requested Information:

1. What health insurance plans can you offer for a large group of employees?

2. Provide the specifications of each available plan you can offer for a large group of employees.

3. State the hospitals that are included in each plan as part of coverage.

4. Specify the annual average coverage amount regularly offered.

5. How are the premiums of each plan calculated?

6. How are the payment rates to network providers calculated?

a. Hospitals

b. Doctors and other Medical Providers

c. Labs

d. Pharmacies

e. Other

7. Does the coverage and type of plan impact the payment rates authorized for Doctors and other Medical providers?

8. Can the Payment Table for Doctors and Medical providers be selected?

9. Does maximum coverage affect premium rates?

10. Do co-insurance percentages affect premium rates?

11. Do deductible amounts affect premium rates?

12. What additional coverage or options are generally available?

a. Dental

b. Ophthalmological

c. Ambulance

d. Air ambulance

e. International coverage

f. Catastrophic coverage

g. Extended coverage for family members after an employee’s death

h. Other

13. What is the age limit to be covered by any of the plans?

14. Are there different levels of family plans depending on the number of dependents?

15. Do your plans for Lao PDR nationals provide coverage in Thailand?

16. Are there any location restrictions or do your plans cover all of Thailand?

17. Do your plans for Lao PDR nationals provide coverage for all care in Thailand, or is it restricted to referrals for care not available in Laos?

18. If international coverage outside of Laos or Thailand is available, will premiums cover any type of medical assistance? If so, please specify what types.

19. What International hospitals are included in your network?

20. How is international medical assistance evaluated and approved for payment?

21. Is international assistance provided by your company or by a third party?

22. Do your plans cover the cost of transportation expenses for out of country medical treatment, or to another hospital within Laos, when the transfer is medically necessary and recommended by the attending physician?

23. How do you determine if medical expenses are to be paid through direct payment or through reimbursement?

24. How are claim requests submitted for review? (i.e. Via e-mail, apps, electronic files, hardcopies to customer representatives? Other?)

25. What is the timeframe to approve or reject reimbursement requests?

26. What is the timeframe to approve or reject scheduled surgery or other procedures?

27. What is the timeframe to approve or reject direct payment for emergencies?

28. What is the timeframe for payment of approved reimbursements?

29. How do you determine that a request is acceptable for payment?

30. Do you have offices at any hospitals in Laos or Thailand?

31. What is the process to enroll employees to the policy?

32. How long does it take to enroll a new employee to the policy?

33. How would you provide insurance certificates? Are these digital or in hard copy?

34. What is the process to distribute the certificates?

35. Is a policy issuance fee charged? If yes, when and how many times is this fee charged and can the fee be added to the total premium?

36. Is there a difference in rates when policies are paid on an annual or a quarterly basis?

37. Can your plans and policies be modified to add or remove services?

4.0 Responses

4.1 Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper.

4.2 White papers in Microsoft Word are due no later 17:00 local time on 14 September 2026. Responses shall be submitted via e-mail only to VientianeProcurement@state.gov. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned

4.3. Section 1 of the white paper shall provide administrative information, and shall include the following as a minimum:

4.3.1. Name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail of designated point of contact.

4.3.2. Contracting strategy to provide health insurance.

4.4 Section 2 of the white paper shall answer the issues addressed in Section 3 of this RFI.

5.0 Industry Discussions

Embassy representatives may or may not choose to meet with potential offerors. Such discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability to meet the requirements.

6.0 Questions

Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing by e-mail to the VientianeProcurement@state.gov. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions will be answered by posting answers to the SAM.gov website; accordingly, questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after 1 September 2026 will be answered.

7.0 Summary

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that can provide health insurance to locally employed staff in Laos. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The U.S. Embassy Vientiane has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.