RFP 25-05 Voluntary Critical Illness Plan (USI)

The Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino has issued Request for Proposal (RFP) 25-05 for a Voluntary Critical Illness Plan through USI Insurance Services, seeking proposals for a group insurance benefit effective January 1, 2026. The procurement targets a comprehensive critical illness insurance plan covering employees, spouses, and children, with coverage amounts ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 for employees and proportional amounts for dependents. The RFP requires bidders to provide a quote for group coverage with robust features, including a five-year rate guarantee, detailed implementation timeline, wellness services description, and performance guarantees. Proposals are due on July 25, 2025, at 1:15 PM Pacific Time, with a potential Best and Final Offer (BAFO) opportunity on July 31, 2025. The Court will evaluate proposals on a 100-point scale, considering plan quality (45 points), rates (5 points), cost (40 points), and acceptance of terms and conditions (10 points), with potential carrier reference calls and interviews scheduled for August 2025.

The RFP includes a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation incentive, offering bidders a 3% bid reduction (not to exceed $100,000) for meeting specific requirements. The current Voluntary Critical Illness plan is provided by The Standard and has been in place since January 1, 2020, covering employees through post-tax payroll deductions. Eligible bidders must be regular employees working at least 40 hours per pay period, with a 14-day waiting period for coverage and a minimum participation requirement of 10 members. The Court serves San Bernardino County, covering over 20,000 square miles with 81 judges and 17 subordinate judicial officers across 11 locations. While a specific award value is not explicitly stated, the current policy covers 180 employees with a total insured amount of $4,805,000 and a monthly premium of approximately $9,000. Bidders must comply with various state regulations, including the Darfur Contracting Act, Unruh Civil Rights Act, and California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and must provide comprehensive documentation of their legal standing and business qualifications.