RFP - PW - Private Sewer Lateral Insurance

The City of Minneapolis Public Works Department, Surface Water & Sewers Division, issued Request for Proposals (RFP 2026-17, Event #0000004084) on March 31, 2026, seeking a qualified insurance provider to develop and deliver optional sanitary sewer lateral insurance for residential customers in compliance with Minneapolis Ordinance 511.40. The procured service entails a voluntary insurance program designed to help homeowners cover the costs of repairing private sewer laterals, with the City seeking competitive premiums, strong coverage limits, and exceptional value that prioritizes affordability, transparency, and reliable service for Minneapolis residents. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the City's eSupplier Portal by April 28, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Minneapolis time, with written questions due by April 13, 2026 and responses posted by April 17, 2026. Respondents must provide comprehensive details including executive summaries, detailed scope of services, plan coverage specifications with limits and terms, customer service capabilities with emergency and non-emergency response times, marketing strategies with enrollment projections, quality assurance procedures, implementation plans with timelines, three years of claims history from comparable programs, cost information including proposed premiums and billing options, and three references from utilities with similar service areas and infrastructure age. The contract will be awarded as a single three-year agreement with an option for the City to extend on an annual basis for two additional years through June 30, 2029, with anticipated service commencement on July 1, 2026. Evaluation criteria include proposal quality and clarity, reference verification, alignment with departmental objectives, financial responsibility and company capacity, and overall cost and level of service value for residents.

The City has designated the Small & Underutilized Business Program requirements as applicable to this procurement; however, no specific set-aside percentages or disadvantaged enterprise restrictions are detailed in the RFP documentation. Respondents must comply with all Minneapolis contract terms and conditions applicable to contracts exceeding $175,000, including mandatory insurance coverage (workers' compensation, commercial general liability, commercial automobile liability, professional liability, and cyber liability), data privacy compliance per the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, equal opportunity and non-discrimination provisions, and participation opportunities for contractors on the City's Target Market Program list. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation materials. The RFP documentation does not specify a budget range, contract value, or award amount; instead, the City explicitly states it does not intend to receive any revenue, commissions, or other financial benefit from this program, focusing solely on securing the most competitive terms for residents. Submission materials must be entered directly through the eSupplier Portal interface, with all required fields properly completed, and bidders are responsible for maintaining current profile data and monitoring communications from the City throughout the procurement process.