Bid Detail

15-272 - RFP: Independent Health Insurance Consultant

The City of Springfield, MA, is seeking proposals for an experienced, independent consultant to provide a comprehensive comparative analysis of the City's available health insurance benefits as well as other market options.

Scope of Service
Provide a detailed analysis of the City of Springfield's health insurance benefits offered through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission (GIC), and compare them to similar benefits.

Evaluate the option of utilizing an organization rather than the Massachusetts GIC to provide health insurance benefits to the City's employees, retirees, and other insureds.

Background
In January 2007, the City of Springfield became the first Massachusetts municipality to join the GIC, and currently insures 8,261 active and retired city and school employees, as well as their beneficiariAll plans offer both an individual rate and a family rate. The City pays 75% of the plan's premium while the employee, retiree, or surviving spouse is responsible for the remaining 25%.

Through the GIC, employees and non-Medicare retirees/survivors have the opportunity to choose from twelve health plans.
On May 21, 2015, The City of Springfield requested utilization data from the GIC for the purpose of determining whether it will continue to participate in the GIC (pursuant to Group Insurance Commission 805 CMR 8.06 (5).

Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 32B, § 19 the City must notify the GIC by October 1, 2015 of any intention to withdraw or the contract will automatically be renewed for three more years. The effective date for the City's withdrawal from GIC coverage would be on July 1, 2016, with coverage ending June 30th, in this scenario.

Contract Period

All reports completed by the Health Insurance consultant must be delivered to the City no later than September 15, 2015.

Services Required

The Consultant shall provide expert advice and assistance to the City of Springfield on matters including, but not limited to, the following:

1. A comprehensive analysis of the City's utilization data and health insurance benefits offered through the GIC, including:
a. Financial comparisons to other insurance companies
b. Potential cost savings
c. Three-year projections of premium increases
d. A benefits and plan comparison
e. Trending and history for market rates, including the GIC and other potential insurers

2. Recommendations for the best available health insurance coverage to meet the needs of employees, retirees, survivors, and beneficiaries.
a. Determine whether continued participation in the GIC is in the best financial interest of the City.

3. Potential solutions for the rising cost of health care for the City of Springfield.

4. Impact of leaving the GIC with regard to Affordable Care Act compliance:
a. Reporting requirements
b. Excise tax on "Cadillac" Plans for 2018. (Plans with premiums over $10,200 for an individual and $27,500 for family coverage.)
c. Medicare Part D reimbursement


Any Proposer submitting a proposal in response to this RFP shall submit one (1) original unbound, four (4) bound copies, and one (1) electronic copy of the Technical Proposal and the separately sealed Price Proposal one (1) original, four (8) copies and one (1) electronic copy no later than 2:00 P.M. on June 24, 2015 to:
Lauren Stabilo, Chief Procurement Officer
City of Springfield
Office of Procurement, City Hall
36 Court Street - Room 307
Springfield, MA 01103

All Price Proposal information shall be sealed SEPARATELY from the Technical Proposal. Failure to submit separate sealed price and technical proposals shall result in disqualification of the entire proposal.

Proposals must be received at this office no later than 2:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The deadline will be strictly observed. Proposals delivered to any other office or location will be rejected as non-responsive. If at the time of the scheduled RFP opening, City Hall or the Office of Procurement is closed due to uncontrolled events such as fire, snow, ice, wind, or building evacuation, the RFP opening will be postponed until 2:00 p.m. on the next normal business day. RFP will be accepted until that date and time.

The Office of Procurement will not respond to oral questions regarding the RFP. Only written questions submitted by June 17, 2015. Written answers to questions shall be sent to each Bidder on June 19, 2015. The City shall not respond to any communications which are not submitted to the email address listed below to:

Lauren Stabilo - Chief Procurement Officer
City of Springfield
Office of Procurement
FAX (413)787-6295
lstabilo@springfieldcityhall.com

If issued, any supplemental instructions, amendments or changes to the RFP will be sent in the form of a written addendum, and shall be sent via e-mail to each person of record as having received the RFP, at the email address provided. Such Addendum, if any, will be submitted no later than June 19, 2015.

Proposals shall be delivered by U.S. Mail, Federal Express or other such service or by hand. Delivery by facsimile is prohibited. It is the Proposer's sole responsibility to ensure that its proposal is received at the proper location at or prior to the deadline.

Proposals will be analyzed by a review committee made up of the various City departments. Supplemental information or the clarification of information submitted may be requested by the City and obtained from Proposers. In connection with the evaluation of Proposals, oral presentations may be requested of all or some of the Proposers.
The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, wholly or in part; to waive technicalities, irregularities, and omissions; to make the award in a manner deemed to be in the best interest of the City; and to correct any award erroneously made as a result of a clerical error on the part of the City.
In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 30B, § 6, proposals shall be assembled and submitted as follow:

Technical Proposal - which shall include all required items explained on pages 7-9, however, the Price Proposal shall not be submitted with the Technical Proposal; and,

Price Proposal - The Consultant will provide lump sum dollar amount for all services relative to the tasks required in the proposal specifications. Please also provide a detailed listing of the number of hours your firm is expected to need to complete the project and well as lead personnel, identifying their role, hourly rate and estimated hours on the project.

Payments will be made based on hourly billing for invoices submitted. Invoices cannot include charges related to travel expenses or travel time. Payments will be made until the project maximum has been reached.

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