Retrospective rating insurance table implementation review

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries is requesting proposals for an independent third-party study of retrospective rating insurance table implementation with proposals due October 23, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. The contract ceiling is $150,000; bids exceeding this amount will be deemed non-responsive.

The contractor must analyze retrospective rating adjustment results for three enrollment periods—October 2023, January 2024, and April 2024—to determine whether adjustment outcomes are consistent with the fairness standard articulated under WAC 296-17B-010 and whether refund distribution among participants has improved. The study scope is limited to first adjustments performed under the 2023 insurance tables. The contractor must examine impacts of blended table usage during the transition period and provide recommendations for mitigating inequity in future table updates.

Minimum qualifications require five years of actuarial experience in workers' compensation and retrospective rating, including familiarity with NCCI programs, L&I systems, or similar rating systems, with proposed staff credentialed as Fellow Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS). Preferred qualifications include more than five years of experience and knowledge of insurance table roles in ensuring equitable distribution.

L&I has established voluntary goals of 6.79% for minority- and women-owned businesses and 2.23% for veteran-owned businesses. A 5% bid preference applies to firms certifying they do not require mandatory arbitration clauses. Evaluation is weighted as follows: Qualifications & Experience (35%), Methodology & Approach (30%), Cost (20%), Executive Order 18-03 Certification (5%), and Washington Veteran-owned/Small Business status (10%).

The contract period runs November 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 with no extension options. The question and answer period runs October 1–14, 2026, with final answers posted by October 16. No bidders' conference will be held. References will be contacted for top-scoring bidders only. The contract is contingent upon funding availability.