Benefits Broker Services

The Paulding County School District in Georgia is seeking a qualified Employee Benefit Firm through a Request for Proposal (RFP 26-260130) to provide comprehensive benefits broker services for approximately 4,100 eligible employees. The primary deliverables include implementation and administration of the school district's employee benefit plans, which currently encompass dental, vision, life and accidental death & dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability, accident, critical illness, permanent life, and flex spending accounts. Qualified vendors must demonstrate specialized expertise in insurance and employee benefit programs, with evaluation criteria including contractor qualifications, relevant experience, scope of work and methodology, training capabilities, value-added propositions, and comprehensive pricing structures that include itemized brokerage fees and claims management costs. Proposals must be submitted online through the Bonfire portal by February 27, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. ET, with a pre-proposal meeting held on February 23, 2026, questions due by February 23, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. ET, and final addenda issued by February 24, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. ET. The contract term commences July 1, 2026, and continues through June 30, 2027, with four optional one-year renewal periods available at the sole discretion of the District's Board of Education. Proposal evaluation is tentatively scheduled for March 2026, with finalist interviews and best and final offers requested in April 2026, and vendor award anticipated in April 2026. All vendors must provide comprehensive upfront pricing with no additional costs permitted after award unless identified during evaluation.

The solicitation does not specify designated set-asides or restrictions limiting responses to particular organization types or disadvantaged enterprises. The incumbent platform is currently the NFP Paulding County School District Benefit Resource Center (BSWIFT), and the selected contractor's enrollment platform will be utilized for administering supplemental medical benefits, potentially requiring transition from the existing system. Selected vendors must demonstrate proof of liability insurance with minimum coverage of $1,000,000 for single limit and statutory workers' compensation within three working days of award notification, and must comply with all required forms and certifications including IRS Form W-9, Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act affidavits, non-collusion affidavits, certificates of non-discrimination, and federal debarment certifications. Payment terms must be net 30 days minimum, with the District accepting P-Card payments. The RFP does not specify an explicit award value or budget range; pricing will be evaluated as part of the overall proposal assessment where cost will not be the sole determining factor. All vendor responses become the property of PCSD and are subject to Georgia's Open Records Act.