Employee Benefits Consulting Services

The Vendor is required to provide to identify and retain a broker of record to assist the City with solicitation, selection, implementation, and oversight of its group health benefits program, including medical, dental, prescription, vision, basic and voluntary life/AD&D, voluntary long-term disability, stop loss, and other voluntary benefits programs for employees, their dependents, and retirees.
- Consultant to provide strategic guidance in planning, designing, and negotiating cost-effective, comprehensive employee benefit programs.
- Consultant will support the City in navigating ongoing regulatory requirements, including those under the Affordable Care Act, and in identifying innovative strategies to manage risk and control costs.
- The ultimate goal is to ensure the City continues to offer competitive, affordable, and sustainable benefits to its employees.
- The City provides the following municipal services: public safety (police and fire), water distribution, wastewater collection and processing, solid waste and recycling collection, streets and drainage, parks and recreation, airport, animal control, library, planning and development, and other general administrative support services.
- Benefits currently provided by the City include, among others, agency retirement benefits, 457b Retirement Plan, health insurance and dental insurance for full-time employees, retirees, and Council members. Other offerings include vision insurance, life insurance, long-term disability, work-site insurances, and short-term disability.
- Review policy related correspondence, obtain quotes and renewal options, handle negotiations with carriers, and aid with complex claim issues.
- Represent the City, the policy holder, to insurance or Administrative Services Only (ASO) and Third-Party Administrator (TPA) providers.
- Provide compliance review, update Cafeteria Plan, and notify the City of current changes to laws or new laws that will have an impact on the City.
- Assist with strategies for implementing and complying with laws and regulations.
- Review and evaluate the effectiveness of the current benefits program in terms of quality of services provided, cost effectiveness, plan design, and plan administration on an annual basis.
- Assist in developing long-term strategies for employee and retiree benefit plans, including consideration of possible alternatives such as deductibles, cost of coverages offered, and other options to optimize premium savings.
- Provide coverage recommendations and write coverage program specifications.
- Analyze proposals received for coverages and prepare side-by-side analysis comparing the costs and features of new proposals to the current contracts.
- Provide comprehensive review and analysis of contracts, agency, implementation documents, and distribution of employee documents.
- Review proposed policies, contracts, or agreements when received from carrier(s) and audit contracts for accuracy of coverage, terms, and conditions.
- Develop and recommend plan funding requirements, COBRA rates, and other alternatives.
- Ensure that the City’s People Operations Department (HR) is notified of all communications and deadlines requested by the insurance carrier, ASO/TPA, and other providers.
- Has a strong public sector network which can assist in providing collaborative resources on unique topics.
- Assist in the development of the specifications for claims history reports that will be needed and coordinate claim reporting data accordingly with the carrier(s);
- Assist in the overall administration of the insurance program, including responding to coverage questions throughout the year, auditing invoices, monitoring claims history, claims issues, and coordinating communications between City and carrier(s).
- Provide a quarterly status review of the plans in a consolidated report to the City, including analysis of claims history and insurance utilization, employee benefit issues, trends, and proposed or new legislation, or other reports as needed.

- Contract Period/Term: 1 year
- Virtual Pre-Proposal Meeting (Non-Mandatory) Date: November 5, 2025
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: November 07, 2025