Health Benefits Consultant

Agency:	Town of Newington
State:	Connecticut
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Posted Date:	Jan 2, 2025
Due Date:	Jan 30, 2025
Solicitation No:	RFP 2024-2025-3
Original Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
Bid Documents:	Please Login to View Page

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Request for Proposals

The Town of Newington is requesting proposals for professional services of a Health Benefits

Consultant to assist Town Staff and the Employee Insurance and Pension Benefits Committee for

a six-year period. All firms wishing to be considered for this appointment shall submit eleven

(11) written responses, ((1) original and (10) copies), based on the requirements set forth in the

RFP document and including forms supplied by the Town. The RFP document is available in

the Town Manager’s Office and on line at www.newingtonct.gov, under Doing Business, Bid

Opportunities. Any addenda will also be posted on line at www.newingtonct.gov, under Doing

Business, Bid Opportunities. Respondents are responsible for checking for the presence and

content of addenda. Proposals will be received until 12:00 noon on January 30, 2025 in the

Town Manager’s Office, 200 Garfield Street, Newington, CT 06111. The Town reserves the

right to reject any or all proposals. The Town of Newington is an Affirmative Action/Equal

Opportunity Employer.

Jonathan Altshul

Town Manager

TOWN OF NEWINGTON CT

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS No. 2024-2025-3

HEALTH BENEFITS CONSULTANT

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 Purpose: The purpose of the RFP is to provide prospective firms with essential

information to enable them to prepare and submit proposals regarding

professional Health Consulting. It is the intent of the RFP to identify the party

most likely to successfully represent the Town and Board of Education in its

desire to minimize rate increases for all applicable insurances, analyze current

plans and recommend future plans. The selected Health Benefits Consultant

shall identify (in a separate sealed envelope submitted with the proposal) the

base cost of services as provided under the Scope of Services and identify the

cost impacts of the various options/alternatives itemized separately. Fees for

additional services must be clearly stated.

1.2 Proposals: All submissions shall:

A. Constitute a complete response to this RFP, using the Proposal Form

provided in this document (see page 8).

B. Include an original and ten (10) copies. The price proposal and/or fee

structure (Appendix A) shall be submitted in a separate sealed envelope

from the base proposal.

C. Sealed Proposals shall be received by:

Town Manager’s Office

Town of Newington

200 Garfield Street

Newington, CT 06111

no later than 12:00 noon. On January 30, 2025. Envelopes shall be

clearly marked “RFP 2024-2025-3, Health Benefits Consultant.”

Proposals received after this date and time will be rejected. Firms

mailing proposals should allow for normal delivery time to ensure

timely receipt of their proposals. Proposals may not be submitted by

e-mail or fax.

D. Shall be signed by an official authorized to bind the firm to its

provisions.

E. Shall include a statement that the proposal remains valid for a period of

at least one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of its submission.

1.3 Rejection of Proposals: The Town reserves the right to reject any and all

proposals received as a result of this RFP.

1.4 Communications Concerning RFP: All questions relevant to the

development of the proposal shall be submitted by email to Janet

Murphy at jmurphy@Newingtonct.gov no later than noon on January

16, 2025. All questions determined to be of interest to all prospective

firms will be answered in writing and provided to all firms by an

addendum which will be posted on the Town of Newington web site,

www.newingtonct.gov, under Doing Business, Bid Opportunities, no

later than Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

Except as authorized by Ms. Murphy, no vendor may contact any other

employee or elected or appointed official of the Town of Newington or Board

of Education with respect to the RFP or the submission of a proposal.

1.5 Term: Based upon the outcome of this process, the Town of Newington will award

a six-year contract. The successful respondent will be expected to be able to

commence services as of July 1, 2025 following written Notice of Award by the

Town, as determined by the Town. Any contract entered into by the Town and

the successful respondent shall provide that the Town may terminate the contract

upon thirty (30) days notice to the respondent. The Town’s current Consultant will

continue to handle the Town’s present insurance and benefit packages until the new

Consultant shall be appointed. The appointment resulting from the RFP shall last

through June 30, 2031.

1.6 Additional Information:

A. Revisions or addenda to the RFP: In the event it becomes necessary to

revise or supplement any part of the RFP, the revision or supplement will

be posted in the form of an addendum on the Town of Newington web site

at www.newingtonct.gov, under Doing Business, Bid Opportunities.

Respondents are responsible for checking the Town’s website for the

presence and content of addenda.

B. Experience: Firms with experience in Employee Insurance and Benefits

consulting services for public sector organizations are encouraged to

submit proposals. Firms must demonstrate their knowledge of both Town

and Board of Education (BOE) organizations as well as the mandates and

laws that affect such organizations in the State of Connecticut.

C. Incurring Costs: The Town will not be liable for any costs incurred by a

firm in the preparation or submission of a proposal.

D. Civil Rights Compliance: Where applicable, firms must comply with the

Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Employment Act, and the Connecticut

Fair Employment Practices Act.

E. News Releases: News releases pertaining to this RFP or the services,

study or project to which it relates will not be made without prior approval,

and then only in coordination with the Town.

F. Acceptance of Proposal Content: The contents of the successful

proposal may, at the Town’s option, become part of the contract entered

into by the successful respondent and the Town.

II. CONTENT OF PROPOSALS

2.1 Scope of Services

The Town of Newington and the Newington Board of Education have

periodically utilized a Health Benefits consultant in its on-going dealings with

health insurance companies. Medical insurance for active employees and retirees

under 65 is currently provided through a self-insured plan with Anthem. As of

7/1/19, all employees have a HDHP through Anthem. The Board of Education

has life insurance with Anthem and also a vision rider under their HDHP

coverage. The Town and BOE have dental plans with Anthem and CIGNA.

There are currently 175 Town contracts and 464 BOE contracts in the self-insured

plans.

Carriers may or may not charge customers a commission fee, whether or not a

broker or agent is utilized. Therefore, it is the intent of the Request for Proposals,

to identify the party most likely to successfully represent the Town and Board of

Education in its desire to minimize rate increases for all insurances. Each

respondent shall identify their base cost of services as provided under the Scope of

Services and identify the cost impacts of the various options/alternatives itemized

separately. Fees for additional services shall be clearly stated. The contract award

will be on a fee basis and no commission may be accepted by the consultant in the

performance of their services on behalf of the Town of Newington.

In accordance with the local ordinance governing Agent of Record services for

employee benefits, it shall be a function of the Employee Insurance and Benefits

Agent of Record as Consultant to solicit and negotiate with at least four (4)

insurance companies for a program to provide the specific insurance coverage for

the Town of Newington, based upon specifications prepared by the Employee

Insurance and Pension Benefits Committee (EIPBC).

A. The coverage for health, life, disability and dental shall be considered

individual units to be proposed by each line of insurance.

B. All other coverage may be proposed separately.

C. To periodically review Town employee insurance and benefits coverage and

loss data to make recommendations to the Town Manager and the EIPBC

with respect to the need for ancillary insurance services, additional insurance

coverage and modifications, and updating or upgrading of existing coverage.

In addition to the above services, the Town is seeking services including, but

not limited to:

A. Market all insurances to include, but not limited to, preparation of bid

specifications, evaluation of proposals received, and make recommendations

on contract award and on contracts to be signed.

B. Coordinate and review necessary demographic data for marketing.

C. Should the Town and/or Board of Education elect to change carriers

following the marketing process:

a. Manage and review the Summary Plan Description (SPD) development

ensuring that the selected vendor provides benefits that are equivalent

to or better than those currently in effect.

b. Provide a disruption analysis relative to the provider, pharmacy,

hospital and appropriate other vendor networks.

D. Attend various employee, committee, BOE and Town meetings as necessary.

F. Review all employee insurance and health benefits related contracts and

explanatory booklets. Prepare, provide advice as appropriate and file any

Internal Revenue Service required forms.

G. Review current plans experience, claims, and market trends, and negotiate

cost savings & renewal premiums with all insurance providers on an as-

needed basis.

H. Periodically review the health insurance plans, claims and fees and provide a

reasonability analysis in comparison with industry norms.

I. Ensure accurate follow through and completion on all negotiated contractual

arrangements made between the Town of Newington and Board of Education

and its health insurance carrier(s).

J. Ensure that any self-funding arrangements with third party administrators are

appropriately managed.

K. Monitor the third-party administrator’s actuarial assumptions under self-

insured programs, if applicable.

L. Intervene and resolve with providers, problems that may arise regarding

claims, proper coverage, routine administration and day-to-day account

service.

This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

Bid Number:	RFP 2024-2025-3
Bid Title:	Health Benefits Consultant
Category:	Non-Construction
Status:	Open

Health Benefits Consultant

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