Benefits Broker/Consultant services

The City of Escondido in San Diego County, California, is seeking proposals for Benefits Broker/Consultant services through RFP No. 25-18, targeting a comprehensive employee insurance benefits program management solution. The procurement aims to secure a qualified benefits brokerage and consulting firm to design, implement, analyze, maintain, and communicate insurance benefits for approximately 775 full-time and 240 part-time employees across six bargaining units. Specific service requirements include annual Health & Wellness Expo services, electronic employee communication materials, COBRA administration, and annual premium forecasting. Proposals are due by 5 p.m. on September 15, 2025, with anticipated interviews scheduled for the week of October 20, 2025, and final selection expected by the week of November 3, 2025. The initial contract term will run from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, with potential for three additional one-year renewal options. Evaluation criteria will likely include the firm's experience, proposed service approach, compensation transparency, and ability to manage complex benefit plans involving multiple carriers such as Kaiser, Delta, Anthem Blue Cross, and The Hartford.

While no specific set-aside designations were explicitly mentioned in the procurement documents, the RFP requires respondents to obtain a City of Escondido business license and maintain appropriate insurance coverage. Compensation methods must be fully disclosed, with specific scrutiny on carrier overrides and commission structures. The standard consulting agreement template indicates comprehensive insurance requirements, including $2,000,000 commercial general liability, $1,000,000 automobile liability, statutory workers' compensation limits, and $2,000,000 professional liability coverage. Although a precise budget range was not specified, the complexity of managing benefits for over 1,000 employees across multiple plans suggests a substantial contract value. The procurement documents suggest the City currently manages benefits through multiple carriers, indicating that the selected broker will need to demonstrate expertise in navigating and potentially consolidating or optimizing existing benefit structures. The contract will utilize a standard consulting agreement that includes detailed provisions for performance, intellectual property, legal compliance, and potential project-specific customization.