Employee Assistance Program Provider

The City of Asheville in Buncombe County, North Carolina, is seeking proposals for an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Provider through a Request for Proposals (RFP) numbered 298-FY26-HR-RFP-EAP2026. The procurement is designed to identify a qualified vendor to deliver comprehensive employee assistance services for the city's workforce. The RFP was issued on September 26, 2025, with a pre-proposal meeting scheduled for October 6, 2025, at 10:00am EDT. Potential vendors can submit questions until October 10, 2025, with any addenda to be published by October 15, 2025. The final proposal submission deadline is October 24, 2025, at 5:00pm EDT, with all documents to be submitted through the city's procurement website. While specific evaluation criteria are not explicitly detailed in the provided summary, the RFP appears to focus on selecting a provider capable of delivering comprehensive employee support services, with potential emphasis on the vendor's ability to meet the city's workplace support needs.

The RFP demonstrates a strong commitment to business inclusion, particularly encouraging participation from women and minority-owned businesses (MWBEs). Proposers are invited to demonstrate MWBE certification and are encouraged to become certified through the City of Asheville's ABI Office. The city has implemented specific requirements, including a drug-free workplace policy that requires prospective contractors to certify compliance with workplace substance regulations. Additionally, the RFP includes a policy prohibiting contracts with firms delinquent on ad valorem taxes to the City of Asheville. While the exact budget or award value is not specified in the provided documentation, the procurement appears to be for a comprehensive employee assistance program that will support city employees' wellness and mental health needs. Potential vendors should be prepared to demonstrate their capability to provide a full range of employee support services, with a particular focus on meeting the city's specific workplace support requirements.