Health Benefits Consultant

TOWNSHIP OF NORTH BERGEN
County of Hudson
State of New Jersey
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
FAIR & OPEN PUBLIC SOLICITATION PROCESS
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
RFP 2026-16 Health Benefits Consultant
Submission Date:
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
11:00 A.M. prevailing time
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TOWNSHIP OF NORTH BERGEN
PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THE SOLICITATION OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
FOR HEALTH BENEFITS CONSULTANT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed request for proposal submissions will be received by the Township
of North Bergen Purchasing Agent for the services set forth below in accordance with the "fair and open process"
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5, et seq.:
RFP# PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
RFP 2026-16 Health Benefits Consultant
Submission package may be examined or obtained at the Township Purchasing Office, Township of North
Bergen, 4233 Kennedy Boulevard, Lower Level, North Bergen, NJ, 07047 Phone 201-392-2040, Monday through
Friday, hours 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or downloadable on the Township's website www.northbergen.org/notices.
Request for proposals ("RFP") responses shall be submitted to Carmen Borrell, Purchasing Agent, Township
of North Bergen, 4233 Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen, NJ, 07047, on or before Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at
11:00 am prevailing time, at which time said responses will be publicly opened and read in the Municipal
Chambers.
Responses must be enclosed in a sealed envelope. The service provider must indicate the following on the
outside of the envelope: (1) the name and address of the service provider; (2) the RFP# and Title of the
Professional Service for which the response is submitted; and (3) "Sealed RFP Response". Responses may be
delivered by hand, overnight courier or mail. The envelope containing the response must be received by the
Township of North Bergen by the date and time set forth above. No late responses will be accepted.
All professional service contractors are required to comply with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 52:32-44
(Business Registration of Public Contractors), N.J.S.A. 10:5-31, et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27 (Contract Compliance
and Equal Employment Opportunities in Public Contracts), N.J.S.A. 52:32-60.1 Certification of Non-
Involvement in prohibited activities in Russia or Belarus.
Contracts will be awarded based on the most advantageous responses. The Township of North Bergen
reserves the right to reject any or all responses.
Carmen M. Borrell
Purchasing Agent
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INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS
Proposals are being solicited through a fair and open process in accordance with N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20, et seq.
Respondents should submit an original and one copy of their proposals.
Respondent will be selected based upon an evaluation of the most advantageous proposal, price, and other factors.
Respondents are expected to examine the RFP with care and observe all its requirements. All questions about the
meaning or intent of this RFP shall be submitted in writing no less than 5 days prior to the due date of the proposal.
All interpretations and clarifications considered necessary by the Township's representative in response to such
comments and questions shall be responded to no less than 3 days prior to the due date of the proposal and will
be posted online at www.northbergen.org/notices.
The Township assumes no responsibility and liability for costs incurred by the Respondents prior to the issuance
of an agreement. The liability of the Township shall be limited to the terms and conditions of the contract.
Respondents will assume responsibility for all costs not stated in their proposals. All unit rates either stated in the
proposal or used as a basis for its pricing are required to be all-inclusive. Additional charges, unless incurred for
additional work performed by request of the Township, are not to be billed and will not be paid.
Any contract entered into between the Respondent and the Township must be in accordance with and subject to
compliance by both parties with the New Jersey Local Public Contracts Law. The Respondent must agree to
comply with the nondiscrimination provisions and all other laws and regulations applicable to the performance
of services there under. The Respondent shall sign and acknowledge such forms and certificates as may be
required by this section.
No corporation or partnership shall be awarded any contract for the performance of any work or the furnishing of
any goods, unless, with receipt of the proposal of said corporation or partnership, there is submitted a statement
setting forth the names and addresses of all stockholders in the corporation or partnership who own ten (10)
percent or greater interest therein. The Respondent shall complete and submit the form of statement that is
included in this RFP.
The right to reject any or all proposals and to waive immaterial formalities is reserved by the Township.
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SCOPE OF SERVICES & EVALUATION CRITERIA
RFP 2026-16 Health Benefits Consultant
The Township of North Bergen, New Jersey, is seeking proposals from qualified, independent, and non-broker-
aligned consulting firms to provide comprehensive strategic, financial, and operational oversight assistance to the
Township for its employee Health Benefits program. The selected consultant will act as a Fiduciary to the
Township and provide data-driven employee benefits advice and analytics focused on cost control, underwriting
outcomes, and long-term sustainability for active employees and retirees.
Scope of Services,
The selected consultant will:
* Analyze and recommend optimal plan designs
* Audit claims and payments of claims
* Provide collective bargaining support during contract negotiations by providing financial
modeling and impact analysis of the proposed plan design changes, premiums-sharing structures
(such as chapter 78 contributions), and wellness initiatives.
* Audit and verify employee Health Benefit compliance under Chapter 78.
* Audit pharmacy benefit managers and stop loss coverage to eliminate waste.
* Review claims experience, administrative fees, and stop loss premium costs.
* Review audits of prescription drug rebate distribution, formulary changes, and specialty
medication management.
* Develop annual premium rate projections and multi-year financial forecasts for all health benefits
programs.
* Calculate incurred but not reported (IBNR) claims reserves.
* Objectively review, and evaluate proposed renewals, performance guarantees, and contract terms
for all Health Benefits Programs.
* Prepare and present bi- annual or annual Health Benefits performance reports to the Township.
* Attend monthly virtual Health Benefits meetings with township officials and brokers.
* Interact and interface with brokers on various program workflows
* Respond and provide recommendations to requests made by the Township regarding any
Employee Health Benefits financial issues.
Minimum Qualifications for Applicants:
* Must operate as an independent consultant
* Must demonstrate a minimum of five consecutive years of experience advising New Jersey
Municipal Government on School Boards on Public employee Health Benefits.
* Must possess a valid and active New Jersey Insurance producer license for Life and Health
Authorities (retained strictly for technical access and consulting credentials, not for writing
commission-based business).
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Evaluation Criteria:
* Experience and reputation in the field.
* Knowledge of the Township of North Bergen and matters concerning the Township of North
Bergen and of the subject matter to be addressed under the contract.
* Availability to attend Township meetings and other matters as required.
* Availability of personnel and other resources to provide such services.
* Other factors to be demonstrated to be in the interest of the Township of North Bergen.
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
EVENT DATE
RFP Issue Date.................................................................................... 7/1/26
RFP Response Due
Date...................................................................................................7/14/26
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SECTION 1: PROJECT OVERVIEW AND INSTRUCTIONS
1.0 PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Township seeks Proposals to provide the professional services for Health Benefits Consultant.
1.1 CONTRACT TERM
1.2 SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT
From the date this RFP is issued until a proposer is selected and the selection is announced by the procurement
officer, proposers may not communicate with any Township staff, commissioners or officials regarding this
procurement, except at the direction of Carmen Borrell, the procurement officer in charge of the solicitation.
Any unauthorized contact may disqualify the proposer from further consideration. Contact information for the
single point of contact is as follows:
Procurement Officer: Carmen M. Borrell,
Township of North Bergen
4233 Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen, NJ 07047
Phone: 201-392-2040 E-mail: Cborrell@northbergen.org
1.3 REQUIRED REVIEW
1.3.1 Review RFP. Proposers should carefully review all instructions, mandatory requirements,
specifications, standard terms and conditions set out in this RFP and promptly notify the procurement officer
identified above in writing, or via e-mail of any ambiguity, inconsistency, unduly restrictive specifications, or
error which they discover upon examination of this RFP. This should include any terms or requirements within
the RFP that either preclude the proposer from responding to the RFP or add unnecessary cost.
This notification must be accompanied by an explanation and suggested modification and be received by
the deadline for receipt of inquiries set forth below. The Township will make any final determination of changes
to the RFP.
1.3.2 Form of Questions. Proposers with questions or requiring clarification or interpretation of any
section within this RFP must address these questions in writing, via e-mail, to the procurement officer referenced
above, 5 days prior to the due date. Each question must provide clear reference to the section, page, and item in
question. Questions received after the deadline may not be considered.
1.3.3 Township Response. The Township will provide written answers to proposers' questions. Any
other form of interpretation, correction, or change to this RFP will not be binding. Proposers must sign and return
any addendum with their RFP response. Responses will be posted online at www.northbergen.org/notices.
1.4 PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE - No pre-proposal conference is scheduled.
1.5 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
1.5.1 Acceptance of Standard Terms and Conditions/Contract. By submitting a response to this RFP,
proposer agrees to acceptance of the standard terms and conditions as set out in this RFP. Much of the language
included in the standard terms and conditions reflects requirements of New Jersey law. Requests for additions or
exceptions to the standard terms and conditions including any necessary licenses, or any added provisions must
be submitted to the procurement officer referenced above by the date for receipt of written/e-mailed questions
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and must be accompanied by an explanation of why the exception is being sought and what specific effect it will
have on the proposer's ability to respond to the RFP or perform the contract. Any material exceptions requested
and granted to the standard terms and conditions language will be addressed in any formal written addendum
issued for this RFP and will apply to all proposers submitting a response to this RFP. The Township will make
any final determination of changes to the standard terms and conditions.
1.5.2 Resulting Contract. This RFP and any addenda, the proposer's RFP response, including any
amendments and any clarification question responses, shall be included in any resulting contract. The Township's
contract contains the contract terms and conditions which will form the basis of any contract between the
Township and the selected proposer. In the event of a dispute as to the duties and responsibilities of the parties
under this contract, the contract, along with any attachments prepared by the Township, will govern in the same
order of precedence as listed in the contract.
1.5.3 Mandatory Requirements. To be eligible for consideration, a proposer must meet the intent of
all mandatory requirements. The Township will determine whether a proposer's RFP response complies with the
intent of the requirements. RFP responses that do not meet the full intent of all requirements listed in this RFP
may be subject to point reductions during the evaluation process or may be deemed non-responsive.
1.5.4 Understanding of Specifications and Requirements. By submitting a response to this RFP,
proposer agrees to an understanding of and compliance with the specifications and requirements described in this
RFP.
1.5.5 Proposer's Signature. The proposals must be signed in ink by an individual authorized to legally
bind the business submitting the proposal. The proposer's signature on a proposal in response to this RFP
guarantees that the offer has been established without collusion and without effort to preclude the Township from
obtaining the best possible supply or service. Proof of authority of the person signing the RFP response must be
furnished upon request.
1.5.6 Offer in Effect for 60 Days. A proposal may not be modified, withdrawn or canceled by the
proposer for a 60-day period following the deadline for proposal submission as defined in the Schedule of Events
and proposer so agrees in submitting the proposal.
1.6 SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL
1.6.1 Content of Proposal. Proposers should address all requests for information and qualifications set
forth in this RFP.
1.6.2 Failure to Comply with Instructions. Proposers failing to comply with the instructions in this
RFP may be subject to point deductions.
1.6.3 Late Proposals. Regardless of cause, late proposals will not be accepted and will automatically
be disqualified from further consideration. It shall be the proposer's sole risk to assure delivery at the designated
office by the designated time. Late proposals will not be opened and will be returned to the proposer at the expense
of the proposer or destroyed if requested.
1.7 COST OF PREPARING A PROPOSAL
1.7.1 Township Not Responsible for Preparation Costs. The costs for developing and delivering
responses to this RFP and any subsequent presentations of the proposal as requested by the Township are entirely
the responsibility of the proposer. The Township is not liable for any expense incurred by the proposer in the
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preparation and presentation of their proposal or any other costs incurred by the proposer prior to execution of a
contract.
1.7.2 All Timely Submitted Materials Become Township Property. All materials submitted in
response to this RFP become the property of the Township.
SECTION 2: RFP STANDARD INFORMATION
2.0 AUTHORITY
This RFP is issued under the authority of the Township of North Bergen. The RFP process is a procurement option
allowing the award to be based on stated evaluation criteria. No other evaluation criteria, other than as outlined
in the RFP, will be used.
2.1 PROPOSER COMPETITION
The Township encourages free and open competition among proposers. Whenever possible, the Township will
design specifications, proposal requests, and conditions to accomplish this objective, consistent with the necessity
to satisfy the Township's need to procure technically sound, cost-effective services and supplies.
2.2 RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS AND PUBLIC INSPECTION
2.2.1 Public Information. All information received in response to this RFP, including copyrighted
material, is subject to public disclosure and may be made available for public viewing after the time for receipt
of proposals has passed with the following four exceptions: (1) bona fide trade secrets meeting the requirements
of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, Title 30, chapter 14, part 4, MCA, that have been properly marked, separated,
and documented; (2) matters involving individual safety as determined by the Township; (3) any company
financial information requested by the Township to determine vendor responsibility, unless prior written consent
has been given by the proposer and (4) other constitutional protections, or as otherwise not subject to disclosure
according to OPRA guidelines.
2.2.2 Procurement Officer Review of Proposals. Upon opening the proposals received in response to
this RFP, the procurement officer in charge of the solicitation will review the proposals and separate out any
information that meets the referenced exceptions in Section 2.2.1 above, providing the following conditions have
been met:
Confidential information is clearly marked and separated from the rest of the proposal.
The proposal does not contain confidential material in the cost or price section.
An affidavit from a proposer's legal counsel attesting to and explaining the validity of any trade secret
claim asserted by the proposer.
Information separated out under this process will be available for review only by the procurement officer, the
evaluation committee members, and limited other designees. Proposers must be prepared to pay all legal costs
and fees associated with defending a claim for confidentiality in the event of an open public records request from
another party.
2.3 CLASSIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS
2.3.1 Initial Classification of Proposals as Responsive or Non responsive. All proposals will initially
be classified as either "responsive" or "non responsive". Proposals may be found nonresponsive any time during
the evaluation process if any of the required information is not provided; the submitted price is found to be
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excessive or inadequate as measured by criteria stated in the RFP; or the proposal is not within the plans and
specifications described and required in the RFP. If a proposal is found to be nonresponsive, it may be subject to
point deductions or rejected.
2.3.2 Determination of Responsibility. The Township will determine whether a proposer has met the
standards of responsibility. Such a determination may be made at any time during the evaluation process if
information surfaces that would result in a determination of non-responsibility.
2.3.3 Evaluation of Proposals. The Township will evaluate the proposals and recommend whether to
award the contract to the firm determined to best meet the needs of the Township or, if necessary, to seek
discussion in order to determine the firm to be selected. All responsive proposals will be evaluated based on stated
evaluation criteria. The Township may consider such factors as accepted industry standards and a comparative
evaluation of all other qualified RFP responses in terms of differing quality and contractual factors. These will be
used to determine the most advantageous offering to the Township.
2.3.4 Completeness of Proposals. Selection and award will be based on the proposer's proposal and
other items outlined in this RFP. Submitted responses may not include references to information located
elsewhere, such as Internet websites or libraries, unless specifically requested. Information or materials presented
by proposers outside the formal response or subsequent discussion may not be considered.
2.3.5 Opportunity for Discussion and/or Oral Presentation/Product Demonstration. After receipt
of all proposals and prior to the determination of the award, the Township may initiate discussions with one or
more proposers should clarification be necessary. Proposers may also be required to make an oral presentation
and/or product demonstration to clarify their RFP response or to further define their offer. In either case, proposers
should be prepared to send qualified personnel to the Township of North Bergen to discuss technical and
contractual aspects of the proposal. Oral presentations/demonstrations, if requested, shall be at the proposer's
expense.
2.3.6 Contract Award. Contract awards, if any, will be made to the proposer who the Township
determines who best can provide the services required and provides all required documents. Formal contracts
incorporating this RFP, including the attachments and the selected proposals, will be executed by all parties.
2.4 TOWNSHIP'S RIGHTS RESERVED
While the Township has every intention to award contracts as a result of this RFP, issuance of the RFP in no way
constitutes a commitment by the Township to award and execute any contract. Upon a determination that such
action would be in its best interest, the Township, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to cancel or terminate
this RFP; reject any or all proposals received in response to this RFP; waive any undesirable, inconsequential, or
inconsistent provisions of this RFP which would not have significant impact on any proposal; not award if it is in
the best interest of the Township not to proceed with contract execution; or if awarded, terminate any contract if
the Township determines adequate funds are not available.
SECTION 3: PROPOSER QUALIFICATIONS
3.0 REFERENCES
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