Employee Benefits Brokerage and Consulting Services

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority (GFIAA) is requesting proposals from qualified firms to provide Employee Benefit Brokerage and Consulting Services for the marketing and placement. Coverages that will need placement are:

• Dental
• Life & Disability
• Medical
• Pharmacy
• Spending Accounts
• Vision

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is the second busiest airport in Michigan, serving business and leisure travelers with nonstop and connecting flights on eight airlines. The Ford Airport is managed and operated by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority.

The successful Respondent shall provide comprehensive Employee Benefits Brokerage and Consulting Services to the Authority. Services shall support the evaluation, procurement, renewal, management, and continuous improvement of the Authority's employee benefits programs.

Services shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Review the Authority's existing employee benefits programs, plan designs, coverage provisions, costs, vendor arrangements, and administrative processes. Identify opportunities to improve coverage, service, employee experience, and cost-effectiveness.
• Develop and recommend employee benefits strategies consistent with the Authority's objectives, workforce needs, budgetary considerations, and overall compensation philosophy.
• Provide independent advice and recommendations regarding employee benefits plan design, funding arrangements, coverage options, carrier selection, and cost-containment strategies.
• Conduct market evaluations and obtain competitive proposals, quotations, and renewal terms for applicable employee benefits programs, subject to the Authority's direction and approval.
• Analyze annual renewals and negotiate with carriers and benefit providers to obtain competitive pricing, favorable coverage provisions, and service arrangements. [...]
• Provide financial analysis, cost projections, benchmarking, and other reporting necessary to support benefits planning, budgeting, and decision-making.
• Assist the Authority in developing and maintaining an annual benefits calendar that identifies renewal deadlines, carrier negotiations, open enrollment activities, employee communications, and other key milestones.
• Disclose all sources of compensation associated with the proposed services, including commissions, fees, bonuses, contingent compensation, overrides, revenue-sharing arrangements, and other direct or indirect compensation received from carriers or benefit providers.
• Within sixty (60) days following contract award, conduct an initial review of the Authority's employee benefits program and identify significant opportunities, concerns, and areas for improvement. Submit a written assessment with prioritized recommendations and an implementation plan no later than one hundred twenty (120) days following contract award, unless otherwise approved by the Authority.
• Provide other employee benefits brokerage, consulting, and related support services reasonably requested by the Authority within the scope of the resulting agreement.

**Submission:** Responses may be delivered physically or electronically. To be considered, complete submissions must be received prior to the due date and time specified (local time).

• Hard copy responses can be mailed or otherwise delivered to: Attn: Marissa Norris, Sr. Procurement Specialist, Gerald R Ford International Airport Authority, 5500 44th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512.
• Electronic responses can be securely uploaded as a single pdf document to: https://www.dropbox.com/request/hzk2fbz3ozxzkv2fe78u

The Authority intends to award an agreement effective June 1, 2027. The term of this Agreement will be three (3) years, ending on May 31, 2030. The term may be extended by the Authority for two (2) additional one (1) year terms.

GFIAA will use a two-phase evaluation and selection process to identify the firm best qualified to provide Insurance Brokerage and Consulting Services. Phase I (written proposal) criteria: Approach and Recommendations 25, Proposed Staffing 15, Relevant Experience 15, Fee Structure 10, Overall Firm Capacity 15. Phase II (interviews and/or presentations) criteria: Understanding of Airport Needs 6, Approach and Recommendations 4, Proposed Team and Expertise 2, Questions, Scenarios, and Communication 8.

Proposals which fail to disclose compensation plan will be considered unresponsive.

Insurance requirements are posted on the Documents and Forms page of the GFIAA website within the Purchasing Terms and Conditions document.