Dental Benefits Program

The State of Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration is requesting proposals for self-insured, experience-rated dental benefits program administrative services covering approximately 39,500 state employees and dependents under RFP AABA 2027-0021, with proposals due September 10, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Vendor inquiries are due August 24, 2026; an intent-to-bid notification is requested by August 31, 2026 (non-mandatory). A virtual pre-proposal meeting will be held, and oral presentations for selected offerors are estimated for the week of November 9, 2026.

Offerors must meet mandatory minimum qualifications: a minimum of ten years' group dental insurance and claims administration experience, prior service to at least one public sector employer and two larger employer groups exceeding 20,000 members, and confirmation of non-broker status. All proposals must comply with Colorado accessibility requirements and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Level AA standards. Prospective bidders must execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement to access census, claims, and historical data.

The scope covers claims adjudication and payment, customer service, underwriting, consulting, reporting, and administrative support for two plans (Basic Dental PPO and Basic Plus Dental PPO) with seamless integration into the state's benefits administration systems. Offerors must achieve specified performance standards: 95 percent claims processing within ten business days, 99.5 percent payment accuracy, 90 percent telephone service level with 30-second answer times, 99 percent procedural accuracy, and 99 percent website availability. Financial penalties for non-compliance reach up to 30 percent of dental fees collected annually. All services including administration materials, plan management, website access, toll-free support, and communication materials must be included in quoted premium rates with no additional costs to the state.

Historical claims paid totaled approximately $28.8 million ($7.77 million Basic; $21.04 million Basic Plus) from May 2025 through June 2026. The contract commences April 1, 2027, with services effective July 1, 2027, running through June 30, 2029, with options for up to four one-year renewals extending through June 30, 2032. All pricing must be firm and fixed in United States dollars; proposals remain binding for 180 days. Evaluation criteria encompass Accessibility Requirements, General Professional Services, Technical Component, Cost Component, Management Capability, and Customer Service, with specific weightings not disclosed. Contract execution is estimated for March 2027. Contact: Phil Rollins, phil.rollins@state.co.us.