Employee Benefits Consulting Services Request for Proposals

City of St. Louis
Department of Personnel, Employee Benefits Section
Request for Proposal
Employee Benefits Consulting Services
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Table of Contents
I. Overview .......................................................................................... 3
II. Timetable and Bid Process ................................................................... 3
III. Scope of Services and Specifications ...................................................... 4
IV. Proposal Contents and Evaluation Criteria ............................................... 5
V. Proposal Submission ........................................................................... 5
VI. Selection Process................................................................................ 6
VII. Additional Information ......................................................................... 7
VIII. Annual Contract Processing Requirements .............................................. 8
Attachment A ............................................................................................. 9
Current Health, Life and Ancillary Providers For The City Of St. Louis ............... 9
Attachment B ........................................................................................... 10
Current Enrollment ................................................................................ 10
Attachment C ........................................................................................... 12
City Of St. Louis Questionnaire For Employee Benefits Consulting ................. 12
Attachment D ........................................................................................... 16
Unauthorized Alien Employee Affidavit ...................................................... 16
Attachment E............................................................................................ 17
Anti-Discrimination Against Israel Certification ........................................... 17
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I. Overview
The City of St. Louis ("City"), acting by and through the City Health
Insurance Committee ("Committee"), seek proposals from interested parties
(hereafter referred to as ("Respondents") to provide employee benefits
consulting services.
The City offers a comprehensive package of healthcare benefits to its
employees and retirees. The benefits include: medical insurance, dental
insurance, life insurance, long-term disability, employee assistance program,
supplemental benefits and medical insurance at retirement*. Current
providers are listed in Attachment A.
The City currently extends benefits to approximately 6,700 participants,
excluding dependents. Medical insurance is provided on a fully insured basis
through Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Medical insurance consists of a
Preferred Provider Company (PPO) with three levels of service delivery and
one high deductible plan. The City does not currently offer a Health Savings
Account. The City has self-insured prescription drug coverage with Express
Scripts, Inc. (ESI) and extends this coverage to the same participants in
medical coverage. Retiree and dependent coverage, as well as all ancillary
benefit coverage, is voluntary with the associated costs being assumed by
the participant. Enrollment distribution is listed in Attachment B.
*Employees of the Police Division of the City hired prior to 9/1/13 may
receive employer paid health insurance at retirement.
II. Timetable and Bid Process
Task Completion Date*
Request for Proposal Released September 28, 2026
Submit Intent to Bid to City October 9, 2026
Bidder Questions Due to City October 16, 2026
City Response, Q&A to Bidders October 23, 2026
Proposal Due Date November 4, 2026
Finalists Meetings November 16,
2026
Final Bidder Decision November 30, 2026
Final Executed Bidder Contract Due January 2027
to City
Effective Date March 1, 2027
*Means or as soon as possible.
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III. Scope of Services and Specifications
The City Benefits Consultant is tasked with researching, modeling, communicating
and making solid and actionable recommendations for the City insurance plans
design based on current benchmarking data.
A. Review and make recommendations regarding healthcare benefit plan
design.
B. Review and make recommendations regarding current healthcare provider
network & discounts.
C. Review and make recommendations regarding current pharmacy plan
design, discounts and rebates.
D. Provide ongoing assistance as needed with plan analysis and cost
projections, renewal strategies, compliance issues, marketplace trends
and new developments and strategic information on the industry.
E. Provide ongoing consulting as requested including but not limited to ACA
compliance issues/questions and COBRA compliance/questions.
F. Review both the pharmacy and medical claims against clinical algorithms
and financial benchmarks and complete analysis and performance
comparison of current medical plan and pharmacy management partners
on clinical, financial and site of care metrics and provide specific
recommendations on improvements. This analysis should be conducted on
a bi-annual basis, at the least.
G. Prepare and lead medical insurance Request for Proposal (RFP).
* Assist the Health Insurance Committee in the identification and
selection of a provider based on the responses to the RFP, including
proposal analysis and attendance at committee meetings.
* Negotiate agreement(s) with selected provider.
* Lead the transition between providers.
H. Negotiate renewal rates with providers and review and negotiate contract
terms, with providers. Help enforce the contract terms according to City
protocol.
I. Provide ongoing assistance and consulting as needed with other City
benefits programs including but not limited to dental insurance, vision
benefits, life insurance, long-term disability, employee assistance program,
i.e. analysis, renewal or bidding strategies, compliance issues,
marketplace trends and new developments on the industry.
J. Conduct a dependent audit, if requested, in connection with the medical
insurance plan.
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K. Provide on-going consulting services in all areas of employee benefits.
IV. Proposal Contents and Evaluation Criteria
For those proposals deemed responsive, which determination shall be within the
sole discretion of the City, the City will evaluate such proposals on, but not limited
to, the following criteria:
A. Responses to the Questionnaire for Employee Benefits Consulting which is
included as Attachment C.
B. The Respondent's specialized experience in the administration of similar
consulting projects.
C. Proximity of the Respondent to the City.
D. Specialized experience, qualifications and technical competence of the
Respondent and the staff to be assigned to the project.
E. Fee/fee structure.
F. Past record and performance of the Respondent with respect to schedule
compliance, cost control and quality of work.
G. The capacity and capability of the Respondent to perform the work within
time limitations.
H. Ability of the firm to engage Minority and Women-Owned Business
(M/WBE) in the course of establishing business partnerships, especially in
the City of St. Louis as feasible.
I. The total amount of taxes paid by the Respondent to the City of St. Louis
for the preceding year.
J. Availability of financial and operating resources as required to complete
the work.
K. Ability of the firm to provide proactive, innovative solutions.
The City reserves the right to accept, or reject any and all proposals submitted.
V. Proposal Submission
All companies submitting a proposal must provide the information requested in
Section V and respond to all questions in Attachment C. The Respondent's
submission should be an electronic proposal signed by the appropriate company
officer. The electronic proposal and accompanying attachments should be emailed
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to Brenda Haverly at haverlyb@stlouis-mo.gov and Amanda Hainline,
hainlinea@stlouis-mo.gov. Please respond in the same format as used in this
request so that the review process may be streamlined.
Please use this subject line for this email including the proposal information,
"PROPOSAL FOR BENEFITS CONSULTING SERVICES"
Proposals will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. CST, Wednesday, November 4,
2026 at the email address listed above. Late proposals will not be accepted.
All materials submitted in accordance with this RFP will become the
property of the City.
All questions shall be submitted via e-mail and should be directed to: Brenda
Haverly. Human Resources Manager, Department of Personnel at haverlyb@stlouis-
mo.gov no later than 4:00 p.m. CST, Friday, October 16, 2026. No contact with
other City committee or City leadership members is permitted. Unauthorized
contact regarding this RFP may result in disqualification or rejection of a proposal.
The City shall maintain a list of all entities requesting copies of the RFP document
and shall make available all questions and responses to each entity requesting a
copy of the RFP.
Respondents are asked to be as complete as possible in their responses.
Incomplete answers may necessitate inquires which will cause delays or may result
in less than full consideration of a proposal.
Respondents shall submit one original proposal in one electronic copy.
All proposals must be signed by an officer of the Respondent and indicate that such
officer is authorized to commit on behalf of your company.
The City will not be responsible for any expenses incurred in the preparation of any
proposal or presentation or finalists' meetings, including travel.
All materials submitted in accordance with this RFP will become and shall remain the
property of the City. All proposals shall be considered public records but may be
deemed and treated as "closed" or "exempt" by the City, at the sole discretion of
the City, pursuant to the City's understanding and interpretation of the laws of the
State of Missouri. The City cannot guarantee confidentiality of any materials during
the evaluation process or at any other time. Thus, proposals and communications
exchanged in response to this RFP should be assumed to be subject to public
disclosure.
VI. Selection Process
Responses will be evaluated by the designated Selection Committee. The
Committee is comprised of the Director of Personnel or his designee, one member
of the staff of the Department of Personnel, one member selected by the Mayor,
one member selected by the Comptroller, one member selected by the President of
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the Board of Aldermen. The Committee will make a recommendation to the Director
of Personnel following its evaluation.
The City and/or the Committee reserves the right to:
1. Reject any and all proposals with or without cause;
2. Request additional information as the City and/or the Committee may deem
necessary;
3. Waive any and/all nonmaterial irregularities pertaining to proposals;
4. Disqualify any and/or all companies and reject any and/or all Proposals for
failure to comply with this RFP or to promptly provide additional requested
materials or information;
5. Supplement, amend, substitute or otherwise modify this RFP;
6. Cancel this RFP;
7. Interview or call upon for a presentation from one or more of the
respondents;
8. Negotiate final contract terms with any respondent;
9. Discuss the proposals submitted with any or all of the respondents;
10.Enter into any agreement deemed by the City of St. Louis to be in the best
interest of the City of St. Louis with one or more respondents
Respondents will be notified if they have been selected for further consideration.
The City reserves the right to interview, or call for a presentation from, any
Respondent submitting a response. Nothing in this RFP is intended to be, nor
should anything herein be construed as, an offer of engagement. A selection or
designation of a successful respondent shall not be construed as an offer of
engagement until and unless a contract is fully negotiated.
VII. Additional Information
A. Taxes and Licenses. In submitting the proposal include verification of a
current business license and tax clearance certificate showing zero delinquent
taxes owed.
B. Living Wage Requirements. If selected, the respondent shall be required to
comply with ordinances of the City of St. Louis including Ordinance #65597,
the City of St. Louis Living Wage Law ordinance. Each bidder must submit the
"Living Wage Acknowledgment and Acceptance Declaration" with the bid.
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C. If selected, the respondent shall be required to comply with the provisions of
Section 285.525 through 285.555 RSMO, as amended, by sworn affidavit
attached hereto and provision of documentation, affirm its enrollment and
participation in a federal work authorization program with respect to the
employee working in connection with this contract. The respondent shall be
required to submit the affidavit affirming that it does not knowingly employ
any person who is an unauthorized alien in connection with the contract
pursuant to the above cited statutes.
D. If selected the respondent shall be required to comply with the provisions of
Section 34.600 RSMO, Anti-Discrimination Against Israel Act.
E. If selected the respondent shall be required to provide a Certificate of
Liability Insurance displaying the City of St. Louis as the Certificate Holder.
F. Amended proposals - A Respondent may submit an amended proposal before
the deadline for receipt of proposals. Such amended proposals must be
completed replacements for a previously submitted proposal and must be
clearly identified as such in the transmittal letter. The City will not merge,
collate or assemble proposed materials.
G. Right to Withdraw Proposal - A Respondent will be allowed to withdraw their
proposal any time prior to the deadline for receipt of proposals. The
respondent must submit a written withdrawal request signed by the
respondent's duly authorized representative(s) addressed to the contact
person listed herein.
H. Governing Law - This RFP and any agreement with respondents that may
result shall be governed by the laws of the State of Missouri. Further, any
action at law, suit in equity or other judicial proceeding to enforce or
construe any agreement with respondents that may result shall be instituted
in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court located in the City of St. Louis.
VIII. Annual Contract Processing Requirements
* Contract document
* Current City Business License proof
* Current City Earnings Taxes proof
* Notarized Unauthorized Alien Affidavit
* Notarized Anti-Discrimination Against Israel Certificate
* Certificate of General Liability Insurance including Cyber Security
* Rates, as applicable
* Other necessary attachments
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Attachment A
Current Health, Life and Ancillary Providers For The City Of St. Louis
AFLAC & Washington National Voluntary Employee Benefits
AFLAC
* Cancer Care/Critical Care
* Hospital Advantage
* Accident Advantage
* Short Term Disability
* Vision Supplement
* Dental Supplement
Washington National
* Solutions - Cancer Care
* Hospital Secure
* Accident Assure
* Critical Solutions
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medical Insurance
Delta Dental of Missouri Dental PPO
The Standard Long Term Disability - City
Express Scripts, Inc. Pharmacy Benefit Manager
MetLife Legal Plans Legal Insurance
Accidental Death and Dismemberment
The Standard Basic and Optional Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
Amwins Medicare Supplement
BarnesCare Fitness and Nutrition classes, Fitness
Centers, Biometric Screenings, Health Fairs,
and all Communications.
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Attachment B
Current Enrollment
Aflac & Washington Voluntary Benefits Employees Covered
National Aflac
City Employees 1093
Police Employees 861
Washington National
City Employees 424
Anthem Blue Cross and Medical Insurance Employees/Retirees
Blue Shield City Employees Covered
High Option - Active 1171
High Option - Retiree 8
Low Option - Active 2218
Low Option - Retiree 11
High Deductible - Active 115
High Deductible - Retiree 0
Police Employees 529
Base Plan - Active 359
Base Plan - Retiree 636
Buy Up Plan - Active 235
Buy Up Plan - Retiree 14
High Deductible - Active 1
High Deductible - Retiree
Express Scripts Pharmacy Benefit Manager Employees/Retirees
City Employees Covered
High Option - Active 1171
High Option - Retiree 8
Low Option - Active 2218
Low Option - Retiree 11
High Deductible - Active 115
High Deductible - Retiree 0
Police Employees
Base Plan - Active 529
Base Plan - Retiree 359
Buy Up Plan - Active 636
Buy Up Plan - Retiree 235
High Deductible - Active 14
High Deductible - Retiree 1
MetLife Legal Plans Legal Insurance Employees Covered
City Employees 807
Police Employees 166
The Standard Life & AD&D Employees/Retirees
City Employees Covered
AD&D 1,819
Basic Life Insurance 3,912
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