Vanguard Academy - Employee Benefits Insurance Programs

Vanguard Academy, conducted through the State of Utah Division of Purchasing, is soliciting proposals for comprehensive employee benefits insurance covering medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, basic life, and voluntary benefits, with proposals due November 12, 2026. The Division anticipates a single contract award to the responsive and responsible offeror providing best value. Procurement falls under Utah Code 63G-6a and Administrative Code R33.

Evaluation proceeds in three stages: an initial responsiveness review, a technical evaluation against weighted criteria with a minimum score threshold, and a cost evaluation in which the lowest-cost vendor receives 100 percent of cost points. Pricing must be submitted separately from technical responses and cannot be designated confidential. The State reserves the right to hold discussions with responsive vendors and request best and final offers. Award is contingent on successful contract negotiation within ninety days of award notification.

Vendors must certify compliance with all solicitation provisions, non-engagement in economic boycotts or boycotts of the State of Israel, and restrictions on forced labor and restricted foreign entities. Vendors may request exceptions to standard terms through redlined Microsoft Word documents during the question and answer period, though the State strongly discourages exceptions. Communication about the solicitation is limited to the designated State procurement officer.

Two attachments accompany the solicitation: a Vendor Prerequisites document and a Business Confidentiality Claim form. Vendors claiming confidentiality must submit both redacted and non-redacted complete proposals, and the entire proposal may not be redacted. The Division will not perform redactions for vendors. Confidentiality claims do not guarantee protection if a request is filed under the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), and vendors must substantiate each claim under Utah Code 63G-2-305 and 63G-2-309.