Employee Benefits Consultant

The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART), a public transportation agency located in Wayne County, Michigan, is seeking competitive proposals for Employee Benefits Consultant services through Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 26-4307. The procurement is designed to secure comprehensive consulting services for managing employee benefits across SMART's four operational locations, covering approximately 966 employees and 684 retirees. Required services include benefit plan design, cost trend analysis, vendor bidding, regulatory compliance assistance, collective bargaining support, and Medicare Part D Retiree Drug Subsidy services. The consultant will provide expertise across medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, and retirement programs. The RFP was advertised on August 13, 2025, with proposals due on September 10, 2025, at 3:00 PM Eastern Time, and the anticipated contract term is three years with two additional one-year option periods. Pricing will be submitted as a firm-fixed flat fee for general services, Medicare Part D services, retiree services, and other specialized areas.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types were explicitly mentioned in the RFP documentation. SMART noted that they are considered an "Orphan Group" by Blue Cross Blue Shield, which means commissions are currently not obtainable for the selected consultant. While a specific budget range was not disclosed, the comprehensive nature of services and the size of the employee and retiree population suggest a substantial contract opportunity. No incumbent vendor information was provided in the available documentation. The consultant will be expected to integrate with SMART's existing benefits infrastructure and support the organization's complex benefits management needs across multiple service areas. The lack of a pre-proposal conference indicates that potential vendors must carefully review the RFP documentation and submit comprehensive proposals that demonstrate their capability to manage the full scope of employee benefits consulting services.