Faithful Performance Blanket Bond for All Employees of Dept. of Workforce Development and Public Official Bond for Treasurer of Unemployment Reserve Fund

The State of Wisconsin Department of Administration Bureau of Procurement is seeking bids for two insurance bond products on behalf of the Department of Workforce Development. The procurement involves a Faithful Performance Blanket Bond covering all department employees in the amount of $500,000 per occurrence with a $5,000 deductible, and a Public Official Bond for the Treasurer of the Unemployment Reserve Fund in the amount of $500,000, as required by Wisconsin Statute Section 108.16(4). The contract will be for a three-year term from March 1, 2019 through March 1, 2022, with premiums to be paid in advance. Bidders must submit a completed Request for Bid form (DOA-3070) and one sample policy demonstrating compliance with specification requirements. The insuring company must maintain a Best's Rating of A or better, and only one bid per bonding company licensed in Wisconsin is permitted. The bid responses are due by December 3, 2018, at the end of the business day, and bids shall remain firm for acceptance for sixty days from the date of bid opening. Evaluation will focus on the lowest responsible and responsive bidder.

The solicitation includes provisions for preference to certified Minority Business Enterprises and certified Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses, with a potential 5% preference for those holding appropriate certification from the Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program. Work centers certified under Wisconsin Statutes Section 16.752 that employ persons with severe disabilities may also claim preference. The incumbent carriers are Travelers Casualty and Surety Company for the Blanket Bond and Zurich Commercial Surety Company for the Public Official Bond, currently serviced through The Brehmer Agency. The Department of Workforce Development has reported no losses in the past 27 years and maintains robust internal controls, with 212 employees classified as Class I (handling money daily), 253 as Class II (handling money occasionally), and 1,235 as Class III (handling money never). The department primarily receives funds electronically and has additional protections through a Visa Liability Waiver Program providing coverage up to $100,000 per cardholder against eligible losses from purchasing card misuse. While a specific award value is not explicitly stated, the bonds are each set at $500,000, which will guide the premium pricing for the three-year contract.