Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Administration
RFP 2026-55
Procurement Schedule
Issue Date:
April 7, 2026
Pre-Proposal Meeting:
N/A
Deadline for Written Questions Submission:
April 14, 2026 by 1:00 PM Eastern Time
Proposal Due:
April 30, 2026 by 11:00 AM Eastern Time
Washington County Public Schools
Center for Education Services
10435 Downsville Pike
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
Tentative Award Date:
May 19, 2026
Dates and/or times are subject to change by the issuing of a written addendum.
WCPS Contract Managers
Procurement Officer
Scott Bachtell
Supervisor of Purchasing
bachtSco@wcps.k12.md.us
Contract Administrator
Kathleen Boyer
Coordinator of Human Resources: Employee Benefits
boyerkat@wcps.k12.md.us
This Bid/RFP document is posted on the WCPS Purchasing website at www.wcpspurchasing.com. This is also the source for any/all
addenda. Please register your company for notices about this Bid/RFP and similar projects on our website.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
WCPS RFP 2026-55
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Administration
Sections
Page
I.
General Terms & Conditions
3
II. Specific Terms & Conditions
20
III. Purpose of RFP
23
IV. Background
24
V. Statement of Needs
27
VI. Specification Overview
29
VII. Specific Evaluation & Award Criteria
30
Required Attachments (available as separate documents on the WCPS Purchasing website)
A. Price Proposal
B. Questionnaire
C. Bid/Proposal Affidavit
D. Contract Affidavit
E. Specification, Price, and Addenda Signature Acknowledgment
*Appendix (provided as separate documents once ‘Intent to bid’ request is received)
A. Benefits (need email of intent to bid for release):
• WCPS EAP and Certificate of Coverage
*Exhibits (provided as separate documents once ‘Intent to bid’ request is received)
A. Utilization Data (need email of intent to bid to release)
B. Census (need email of intent to bid to release)
*Request for Intent to Bid:
Please confirm your intent to bid by notifying Christina Price (christina_price@ajg.com) and Scott Bachtell
(bachtsco@wcps.k12.md.us), providing intent to bid to request de-identified census. Ensure your email includes the
following details:
o Name of the carrier
o Lines of coverage to be quoted
o Primary contact information
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WCPS RFP 2026-55
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Administration
SECTION I - GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Introduction
It is the intent of this RFP to solicit sealed proposals from qualified firms to establish a contract for providing
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Administration to eligible employees and their dependents.
Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) has retained Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc to assist with this RFP.
2. Definitions
As contained herein, the terms “WCPS”, WCBOE, “Schools” and/or “Owner” means Washington County Public
Schools/Washington County Board of Education/Board of Education of Washington County. The terms “bidder”,
“offeror”, “firm”, “vendor”, and “person” are synonymous, and mean an entity submitting a proposal in response to
this solicitation. Similarly, the terms “bid”, “quote”, and “proposal”, mean the response submitted by an offeror.
The term “contractor” means an offeror awarded a contract as a result of this solicitation. The terms “General and
Special Provisions”, “requirements”, “scope”, “specifications”, and “criteria” mean the services, terms, and
conditions required by the Bid/RFP.
3. Document Organization
This Bid/RFP solicitation document is organized into sections and is required to be followed. If submissions are
outside this format, the bid may be disqualified.
I
Executive Summary, Minimum Service Requirements, Summary of Deviations from the
specifications
II
Description of Plan Designs Quoted: List all deviations from current and proposed plans.
Provide a list of limitations and exclusions
III
Description of Proposed Price and Exhibits
IV
Questionnaire Responses; Implementation Schedule
VII
Sample management reports and documents
VIII
Sample documents and communication materials
IX
Sample contracts for proposed services
4. Bidder Registration
Vendors are solely responsible for completing the vendor registration process online at wcpspurchasing.com.
Contact the Purchasing Department, at 301-766-2840, or by email to: purchasing@wcps.k12.md.us if you have any
questions or to check the status of your registration. Once registered in the WCPS Vendor Database, you will be able
to view current solicitations and may automatically receive notification of certain bid solicitations. Washington
County Public Schools will not be held responsible for a company’s failure to become and remain a registered
Vendor, to identify appropriate commodity/service categories, to keep the self-service vendor account up to date with
current contact information, and to accomplish these things in a timely manner. Bidders with a repeated history of
not bidding in a specific category may be removed from the Vendor Database for that category at the discretion of
the Purchasing Supervisor.
a. If your firm is already a WCPS registered vendor:
• You must confirm your account is current, and a W-9 must be on file.
5. eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) Registration
All Washington County Public School (WCPS) suppliers and or contractors interested in bidding on WCPS projects
must register on eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (https://emma.maryland.gov/) prior to submitting a
proposal/bid.
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WCPS RFP 2026-55
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Administration
Contractors are required to register with eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (https://emma.maryland.gov/). Maryland
law requires local and state agencies to post solicitation and award notices on eMaryland Marketplace Advantage.
This cannot be done without the contractor’s self-registration in the system. Registration is free. Failure to comply
with this requirement may be considered grounds for default. It is recommended that any interested bidder register
with eMaryland Marketplace Advantage, regardless of the award outcome for this procurement, as it is a valuable
resource for bid notification for municipalities throughout Maryland.
6. Receipt of Bids
a. Bids received prior to the time of opening will be time-stamped and securely kept unopened. No bid received
after the due date and time listed will be considered. WCPS will not be responsible for the premature opening of
bids received that are not properly addressed or identified. Any bid may be withdrawn before the scheduled time
for opening bids. A Bid sent via email will not be accepted.
b. All inner and outer envelopes and packaging, used by FedEx, UPS, etc., are to be labeled with the following:
• Bidder Name
• Bid Number and Name
• Due Date and Time
c. Bids received after the designated date and/or time will not be accepted, regardless of when they were mailed or
given to a delivery carrier.
d. Bids not received by the date, time, and location designated on the solicitation cover sheet, due to improper
labeling, may be considered non-responsive.
e. In the event of inclement weather on the date when bids are scheduled to be opened and the WCPS offices are
closed, or operating under a modified schedule, bids will be opened on the next business day at the same time as
previously scheduled. Bids will be accepted until the scheduled time of opening on the next business day.
Often, when schools are closed due to inclement weather, administrative offices remain open. When in doubt,
call the Purchasing Department (301-766-2840).
7. Addenda
a. All changes to the bid solicitation will be made through appropriate addenda issued from the Purchasing
Department.
b. Addenda will be available on the WCPS Purchasing Department webpage.
c. Addenda will be issued no later than four (4) days prior to the date for receipt of Bids, except an Addendum
withdrawing the request for Bids or one which includes postponement of the date for receipt of Bids.
d. Each bidder shall ascertain, prior to submitting a bid, that they have received all Addenda issued and the bidder
shall acknowledge receipt on the Signature Acknowledgement Form. Failure of any bidder to acknowledge the
receipt of addenda will not relieve that bidder from any obligations under this solicitation as amended by
addenda. All addenda so issued will become part of the award and contract documents.
8. Preparation of Bid
a. Should any bidder be in doubt as to the meaning of the specifications, or should they find any discrepancy or
omission, they shall notify the Contract Managers listed on the solicitation cover sheet. No pleas of ignorance of
such conditions and requirements resulting from failure to make such investigations and examinations will
relieve the successful offeror from its obligations to comply in every detail with all the provisions and
requirements of the contract documents, or will be accepted as a basis for any claim whatsoever for any
monetary consideration on the part of the successful bidder. If required, bidders will be notified of clarifications
and/or additional information by means of addenda.
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WCPS RFP 2026-55
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Administration
b. Each bid will be sealed, show the full business address and contact information of the bidder, and be signed by
the person(s) legally authorized to sign contracts. All correspondence concerning the bid and contract, including
notice of award, copy of contract, and purchase order, will be emailed or mailed to the address shown on the bid
in the absence of written instructions from the bidder to the contrary.
c. Bidder shall submit one original proposal, with the requested documents signed. Bidders may not submit more
than one proposal. Bids must be prepared on the proposal form(s) provided. WCPS’s Price Proposal and other
forms shall not be altered.
d. Compliance with Laws; The Contractor hereby represents and warrants that:
i. It is qualified to do business in the State of Maryland and that it will take such action as, from time-to-
time hereafter, may be necessary to remain so qualified;
ii. It is not in arrears with respect to the payment of any monies due and owing the State of Maryland, or
any department or unit thereof, including but not limited to the payment of taxes and employee benefits,
and that it shall not become so in arrears during the term of this Contract;
iii. It shall comply with all federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances applicable to its
activities and obligations under this Contract; and
iv. It shall obtain, at its expense, all licenses, permits, insurance, and governmental approvals, if any,
necessary to the performance of its obligations under this Contract
v. Bidder shall provide proof of compliance to WCPS upon request.
e. By submitting a response to this solicitation, each Bidder represents that it is not in arrears in the payment of any
obligations due and owing the State of Maryland, including the payment of taxes and employee benefits, and that
it shall not become so in arrears during the term of the contract if selected for contract award.
f. Bids by partnerships must be signed with the partnership name, followed by the signature and designation of the
person having authority to sign. When requested, satisfactory evidence of authority of the person signing will be
furnished. Anyone signing the bid as an agent shall file satisfactory evidence of their authority to do so, if
requested.
g. Bids by corporations must be signed with the name of the corporation, followed by the signature and designation
of the person having authority to sign. When requested, satisfactory evidence of authority of the person signing
will be furnished. Anyone signing the bid as an agent shall file satisfactory evidence of their authority to do so, if
requested.
h. Failure to sign the bid document will result in rejection of the bid as non-responsive.
i. WCPS will not be responsible for any costs incurred by a bidder in preparing and submitting a proposal in
response to this solicitation.
9. Bid Opening
a. Bids shall be opened in public at the time and place designated in the bid solicitation.
b. A complete evaluation of the proposals will not take place at the bid opening, and no indication of award will be
made. A final recommendation(s) shall be prepared for review and approval by the Board of Education of
Washington County. During the evaluation process, no information will be provided until the final
recommendation has been approved.
c. Final award recommendation and the bid tabulation will be posted on the WCPS webpage after the Board of
Education of Washington County's approval.
10. Award or Rejection of Bids
a. The basis of award shall be the lowest responsible bidder(s) submitting a responsive bid that conforms to the
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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.