Employee Benefits Broker and Consulting Services

The Jefferson County Clerk's Office in Kentucky is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to procure comprehensive Employee Benefits Broker and Consulting Services for approximately 270 full-time and part-time county employees and their eligible dependents. The scope of services includes strategic planning, actuarial and financial analysis, vendor management and procurement support, reporting and data management, communications and administrative support, and compliance services related to medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance programs. Qualified firms must demonstrate at least ten years of experience providing employee benefits consulting services to organizations with 250 or more employees, maintain independence from exclusive affiliation with any single insurance carrier, and provide local or dedicated service support. The evaluation committee will assess proposals based on qualifications, experience, technical approach, and cost, with award made to the offeror providing the best overall value to the County. The critical timeline includes written questions due April 29, 2026, proposals due May 6, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. EST, proposal evaluation on May 15, 2026, optional interviews during the week of May 18, 2026, a notice of intent to award on May 26, 2026, and a contract start date of June 1, 2026. The initial contract term is two years with up to three one-year renewal options.

The RFP permits alternative business structures and encourages participation from certified minority-owned, women-owned, disabled-owned, LGBT-owned, and veteran-owned businesses through the vendor registration process. The County prefers a fixed fee compensation model, though alternative or hybrid structures may be proposed if clearly defined and transparent; however, all compensation must be fully disclosed, including commissions or fees from insurance carriers, which must be either credited to the County or offset against fees charged, with the County reserving the right to require a fee-only structure as a condition of award. Proposals must include firm qualifications, staffing plans with key personnel resumes, technical approach and methodology, compliance capabilities, cost structure, and three references from public-sector clients within the past five years. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the solicitation documents. All proposals are subject to Kentucky's Open Records Act, and prospective vendors must complete the required Vendor Information form and submit an IRS Form W-9 dated within the last twelve months as part of the proposal submission process.