Workers' Compensation Security Fund Counsel

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, through the Governor's Office of General Counsel and the Pennsylvania Insurance Department's Office of Liquidations, Rehabilitations and Special Funds (OLRSF), is seeking legal services for the Workers' Compensation Security Fund. The procurement is a Request for Proposals (RFP) with the primary objective of obtaining legal representation to defend workers' compensation claims arising from insolvent insurance companies that previously operated in Pennsylvania. Qualified law firms will be responsible for representing the Security Fund before workers' compensation judges, the Workers' Compensation Appeal Board, and appellate courts, with potential additional general legal work as designated by the Chief Counsel. The RFP requires law firms to have a senior contract manager with at least 7 years of workers' compensation experience, and all other attorneys must have a minimum of 3 years of workers' compensation practice experience. Proposals are due by April 24, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. EST, with the Commonwealth planning to make a limited multiple award to the highest evaluated law firms based on technical, cost, and diversity criteria. An informational session for Small Diverse Business (SDB) and Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) participation is scheduled for April 10, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. via Microsoft Teams.

The procurement includes specific participation goals for Small Diverse Businesses (16%) and Veteran Business Enterprises (3%), requiring bidders to either meet these goals or demonstrate good faith efforts to do so. Law firms must submit separate SDB and VBE participation proposals, along with a Law Firm Diversity submittal that includes workforce utilization reports, diversity practices, and commitment to inclusive hiring and development. The contract will have an initial term of one year with options for up to two additional one-year renewals. While specific budget details are not explicitly stated, the contract includes provisions for reimbursement of reasonable, actual, ordinary, and necessary expenses, with a maximum compensation limit of $750,000. Bidders must provide detailed cost submittals, including position rates for proposed staff, with an estimated 1,000 billable hours per year used for evaluation purposes. The procurement emphasizes diversity and inclusion, requiring law firms to demonstrate their commitment to these principles through comprehensive documentation and reporting.