RFP 07-2025-IT011 Program Broker and Administrator for Voluntary Supplemental Benefits for NC Retirees and Benefit Recipients

The Retirement Systems Division (RSD) of the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer (NCDST) makes a voluntary Supplemental Benefits Program (Program) available to eligible Retirees and other eligible benefit recipients, which include beneficiaries of the Disability Income Plan of North Carolina (DIPNC) and survivor beneficiaries. The current program includes dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, and identity protection offerings. The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit Offers from qualified Vendors to serve as the Program Broker/Administrator for the Supplemental Benefits Program. The awarded Program Broker/Administrator is expected to administer RSD-approved offerings and, at RSD’s direction, assess Retiree and other eligible benefit Recipient’s needs, conduct carrier and other provider solicitations, and negotiate favorable and customized terms.

Award of this broker and administrator contract does not select or approve a carrier, provider, product, policy, benefit, or premium. RSD will decide which offerings to authorize after reviewing the Vendor’s post-award recommendations. State funds are not utilized to pay the premiums for these products. Retirees and eligible benefit Recipients are responsible for 100% of the premium for any product purchased.

The NCDST RSD seeks to award this RFP to a Program Broker/Administrator to source, negotiate, implement, and administer a suite of voluntary dental, vision, life insurance, and identity protection benefits for eligible Retirees and other eligible benefit recipients.

Vendors must provide an online platform where Retirees and eligible benefit Recipients can select, unselect, and monitor benefits. Additionally, Vendors must be able to send and receive encrypted data files to and from NCDST RSD securely using Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). Initial benefit coverage and ongoing Program administration are intended to begin January 1, 2028.

**Requirements** include:

• Vendor shall arrange and administer RSD-approved voluntary Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, and Identity Theft services. Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, and Life Insurance shall be obtained from A-Rated insurers.
• After Contract award, Vendor shall solicit proposals from insurance carriers and other product or service providers to identify suitable Program offerings and negotiate terms for RSD’s approval.
• Vendor shall provide a product summary and comparison table for each required product, limited to two pages per product, excluding rate sheets, certificates, and policy forms.
• Vendor must have a minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated brokerage experience providing insurance coverage to public entities.
• Vendor must have headquarters or a branch office in North Carolina.
• Vendor must provide and manage a website specifically for North Carolina Retiree Supplemental Benefits Program.
• Vendor must provide Retiree premium billing as follows: consolidated monthly premium billing, and a Direct Bill service to those Retirees that are not eligible to have their elections deducted from their pension/disability checks.
• Vendor must provide extensive customer service to all Retirees for enrollment, ongoing inquiries, questions, concerns, including a toll-free customer service support line, live customer support, and bilingual customer support (English & Spanish).
• Vendor must disburse required premiums to insurance carriers within five (5) business days after receipt of funds.
• Vendor shall pay for an independent review of the Supplements Benefits Program every two years and for reviews of proposed new products when requested by RSD.

**Offer valid** for one hundred twenty (120) days from date of offer opening unless otherwise stated.

Refer ALL inquiries regarding this RFP through the Message Board in the Ariba Sourcing Tool.

A contract awarded pursuant to this RFP (the “Contract”) shall have an effective date as provided in the Notice of Award. The initial term shall include the implementation period during 2027 plus three (3) calendar years unless terminated earlier by NCDST due to convenience or cause. The NCDST retains the option to renew the Contract for two (2) optional one-year (1 year) renewal terms, at its sole discretion, for a potential five (5) year term.

This will be a term contract, and it is the intention of NCDST, RSD to award a single Vendor.

Affordability is important, but NCDST will evaluate overall value, product quality, sustainability, clarity, and service rather than lowest price alone.

If the offer cannot meet the requirements, the proposal will not be evaluated.