Workers' Compensation Third-Party Adjuster RFI

The University of Washington has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking third-party administrators (TPAs) to participate in a feasibility study for a potential worker injury self-insurance program. The primary objective is to evaluate the costs and benefits of managing workers' compensation claims internally, with a specific requirement that all self-insured claims must be managed in full compliance with Washington State industrial insurance laws and regulations. Key qualifications for potential TPAs include financial stability, regulatory compliance, excess carrier approval, Washington state business licensure, and employment of Washington-certified claims adjusters. Evaluation criteria will encompass industry reputation, dedicated client services, claims management experience, medical bill repricing services, RMIS technology capabilities, data analytics, and local presence. The RFI was posted on February 12, 2025, with questions due by February 20, 2025, and comprehensive responses required by March 6, 2025. The University may subsequently issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) based on the responses received from this RFI.

The RFI documents include several attachments that prospective respondents must review, such as a Data Processing Agreement, Confidentiality Statement, MWBE (Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise) Participation Form, and University General Terms and Conditions. While specific award values are not explicitly stated, the procurement is focused on King County and Kingston CDP jurisdictions within Washington State. The MWBE Participation Form suggests there may be opportunities or encouragement for minority and women-owned businesses to participate in the procurement process. No incumbent vendors are mentioned in the documentation, and the study appears to be an initial exploration of potentially transitioning to a self-insurance model for workers' compensation. The RFI indicates that the selected TPA will need to demonstrate robust technological capabilities, particularly in claims management systems and data analytics, to support the University's potential future self-insurance program.