RFP: Voluntary Benefits for Eastern Shore of Maryland Educational Consortium Health Insurance Alliance
Closed State & local contract opportunity Posted
- Solicitation number
- BPM055101
- State
- Maryland
- Responses due
Opportunity facts
- UNSPSC code
Opportunity details come from emma.maryland.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
Bolton is soliciting proposals on behalf of the Eastern Shore of Maryland Educational Consortium (ESMEC) Health Insurance Alliance for voluntary benefits products effective September 1, 2026, with proposals due February 18, 2026 and questions due February 6, 2026.
The ESMEC HIA comprises seven entities: Caroline County Public Schools (990 benefit-eligible employees), Dorchester County Public Schools (819), Kent County Public Schools (333), Queen Anne's County Public Schools (945), Queen Anne's County Government (652), Somerset County Public Schools (567), and Talbot County Public Schools (763) — a combined 5,069 benefit-eligible employees. The RFP seeks six voluntary benefit products sitused in Maryland: Voluntary Short-Term Disability, Voluntary Long-Term Disability, Critical Illness, Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, and Permanent Life with Long-Term Care/Critical Care Rider. Current participation across all six categories totals 4,179 policies with aggregate annual premiums of $1.476715 million.
Enrollment will be managed through Bolton's existing bswift benefits administration platform with payroll deduction billing. Bolton currently supports core-benefits enrollment for all seven entities and will manage billing reconciliation; each entity pays for its enrolled population with varying billing frequencies. Vendors must demonstrate quality customer service, responsive administrative support, U.S.-based call centers, and a dedicated service manager model. Bolton will assist with enrollment using Decision Support Specialists for face-to-face and call center enrollment as needed.
Vendors must submit age-banded rates with premium examples, complete financial cost information and rating agency data, state-specific commission and override data, rate guarantees, implementation and technology credits, and performance guarantees. Respondents must be well-established and financially stable organizations. Bolton targets an award decision by March 20, 2026 and reserves the right to extend contract terms to other public agencies and educational institutions under a cooperative purchasing provision.
Opportunity text
The Eastern Shore of Maryland Educational Consortium (ESMEC) Health Insurance Alliance (HIA) has engaged Bolton to solicit voluntary benefits product proposals. It is anticipated that any new voluntary benefits plans selected will be effective in conjunction with their core benefit plan year of September 1, 2026 and will be enrolled as early as May 2026. For many of the ESMEC entities Bolton currently supports the enrollment of the voluntary benefits utilizing our Decision Support Specialists for Face-to-Face and call center supported enrollment. Enrollment will be managed on their current bswift benefits administration platform, which is maintained by Bolton for all entities.
The ESMEC HIA consists of seven entities:
• Caroline County Public Schools - 990 benefit eligible employees
• Dorchester County Public Schools - 819 benefit eligible employees
• Kent County Public Schools - 333 benefit eligible employees
• Queen Anne's County Public Schools - 945 benefit eligible employees
• Queen Anne's County Government - 652 benefit eligible employees
• Somerset County Public Schools - 567 benefit eligible employees
• Talbot County Public Schools - 763 benefit eligible employees
While Bolton currently supports on bswift the core benefits enrollment for all seven ESMEC HIA entities, there are a variety of voluntary offerings in place with numerous carriers across the HIA. Bolton is seeking proposals for the following voluntary products, to be sitused in the State of Maryland, to offer to the seven ESMEC HIA employers:
1. Voluntary Short-Term Disability
2. Voluntary Long-Term Disability
3. Critical Illness
4. Accident Insurance
5. Hospital Indemnity
6. Permanent Life with Long-Term Care / Critical Care Rider
Voluntary benefits will be enrolled in conjunction with the core benefits. They will be on payroll deduction. Bolton will assist with managing the billing and reconciliation process. Each entity will pay for its own enrolled population, with varying billing frequencies among entities, preferably using a self-billing method.
Bolton and the HIA seek to partner with the vendor who can best demonstrate:
• Effective quality customer service
• Consistent, responsive, professional administrative service backed by verifiable
performance measurements
• Best in class voluntary products
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| ESMEC HIA Voluntary Benefits RFP 20260129.pdf |
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