Insurance Broker Services for Employee Benefits

Background
The City of Bend is seeking proposals from qualified firms to provide a full range of employee benefit broker and consultant services related to group health, vision, dental, life, disability, and ancillary benefit programs for its employees and dependents. This initiative is prompted by the expiration of the current contract with Brown & Brown Northwest for these services. The City has approximately 800 benefit-eligible employees and around 2,200 covered individuals across various employee groups.

Work Details
The selected contractor will provide comprehensive services including:

1. **Business Partnership**: Understand City culture, provide education to management, assist in establishing objectives, serve as a liaison between the City and benefit vendors, monitor provider compliance.

2. **Benefit Plan Design and Review**: Analyze benefits for appropriateness, recommend changes, compile benchmarking data, analyze data for risk stratification, issue RFPs when necessary.

3. **Financial Management and Reporting**: Analyze claims experience quarterly, recommend cost management solutions, develop annual premium rates.

4. **Communications**: Develop employee communication campaigns and assist with open enrollment meetings.

5. **Regulatory Compliance**: Alert City of compliance issues and assist with questions.

6. **Program Management**: Respond to program questions from HR staff and facilitate resolution of complex claim issues.

Period of Performance
The contract will be performed over a period of up to five years.

Place of Performance
Services will be performed at the City of Bend located at 710 NW Wall Street, Bend, Oregon 97703.

Bidder Requirements
Proposers are encouraged to involve participation from Minority, Women Owned, Emerging Small and Veteran Owned businesses. Proposals must include signed Oregon Statutory Certifications confirming compliance with civil rights laws and tax obligations.