The vendor is required to provide for a prepaid debit card (hereinafter called the card) that is visa or master card branded to deliver state agency program benefits to recipients (hereinafter called the cardholder).
- The card shall provide a secure, convenient and accurate payment delivery mechanism for state payments sent to cardholders.
- Current programs delivering benefits by card are for child support payments, unemployment insurance payments, state consolidated retirement system (TCRS) retirement payments, individualized education account (IEA) payments, and payroll.
- Include for services:
• Card means a reloadable prepaid debit card provided by the contractor.
• Cardholder means the recipient of state agency payments delivered via a prepaid debit card.
• Expedited card fee means a fee paid to have a replacement card shipped with faster than standard shipping.
• Individualized education account (IEA) means an account established for eligible students with disabilities for deposit of state and required local match funds to be deposited and used for educational purposes of that student.
• Merchant category code (mcc) means a four-digit number listed in iso 18245 for retail financial services used to classify a business by the types of goods or services it provides.
• National automated clearinghouse association (NACHA) means the organization that manages the development, administration, and governance of the ach network.
• Operating procedures means a mutually agreed upon document that provides a summary of all standard procedures and protocols used in the daily operations of the card program.
• Overdraft charge means a fee charged when a payment or withdrawal exceeds the available balance.
• Payroll card account means a prepaid debit card established for the electronic deposit of employee related payments.
• Regulation e means a federal reserve regulation that outlines rules and procedures for electronic funds transfers (efts) and provides guidelines for issuers and sellers of electronic debit cards.
• Replacement card fee means a fee paid to have a replacement card produced in the event the card is lost, stolen, or damaged.
• Security assessment activities mean an assessment performed to identify the current security posture of information.
• Transition-in services mean the implementation plan and services provided by the contractor at the inception of the contract.  
• Transition out services means the phase out services provided by the contractor at the conclusion of the contract.
• Unclaimed property means any money whose rightful owner cannot be located that is required to be turned over to the government after a specific period of time.
- General program requirements
• The card shall operate via the visa or Mastercard networks, shall be accepted by any participating merchant, and shall allow for personal identification number (pin)-based and signature-based purchases.
• The contractor shall process and credit state agency payments delivered via the card to the cardholder.
• The contractor shall utilize an automated teller machine (atm) network and shall allow for nationwide and international atm access and the withdraw of cash through normal atm transactions.
• The contractor shall ensure the operating network is accessible to the cardholder and the atm network technology will be currently active and available within the state as well as other states.
• Cash access must also be made available via a bank teller at participating visa or Mastercard banks.
• The card may operate as a debit card, a stored value card, or another electronic access type card and shall have no line of credit.
• The cardholder shall not be able to make additional deposits (that are not state funds) or add value to the card.
• The cardholder shall not be able to obtain checks or negotiate checks against the card or underlying account.
• The cardholder shall have the ability to request a new pin.
• The contractor shall provide a simple means for establishing and changing the pin.
• The operating network shall, to the extent possible, disallow any transaction that causes the cardholder to exceed the amount available in the account.
• Balance inquiries by the cardholders shall be available by in-network atm, 1-800 number service, and web-based application.
• The contractor shall notify cardholders in writing at least thirty (30) days in advance of changes in account policy and provide materials to cardholders at a basic 5th grade level in both English and Spanish.
• Provide 24/7/365 customer service access in both english and Spanish via toll free phone access to an integrated voice response (IVR) system
• The IVR system will be capable of tracking the state agency program to which the call pertains.
• Provide for a means for account establishment.
• Provide for a means for secured card activation by the cardholder prior to use.
• Provide a secure website for the cardholder to access information on their account
• Information available on this secure website shall include but should not be limited to:
o Available balance on the card.
o Transactional information for the last 12 months.
o Ability to execute electronic transfers to a bank account.
o Ability to update address, e-mail, and phone number associated with the account.
- Contract Period/Term: 5 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: May 20, 2025