RFI10262026 - SHI Broker Administrator

Request for Information

RFI10262026

STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN - BROKER/ADMINISTRATOR

Responses Due: 10/30/2026, 5:00p.m. CST

(NOTE: Take care to choose the CORRECT FOLDER NUMBER from the dropdown menu.)

Introduction

The Division of Student Affairs is conducting a Request for Information (RFI) on the behalf of The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. The information gathered will inform the University's future decision on whether to issue an IFB (Invitation for Bid) also known as a Competitive Sealed Bid or an RFP (Request for Proposal) also known as a Competitive Sealed Proposal. This RFI should not be construed as a commitment by the University to issue an IFB or RFP in the future. No contract will be awarded directly from this RFI.

Background Information

Founded in 1871 and opened to students in 1872, the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, is the state's flagship land-grant and research university. The university offers more than 200 academic programs leading to undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional degrees. Recognized for its high level of research activity, the university advances education, research, and innovation across a wide range of disciplines. Its faculty and students contribute to research addressing economic, social, and cultural needs in Arkansas and beyond. Through academic programs, public service, and statewide partnerships, the University of Arkansas supports the state's educational attainment, economic growth, and long-term development.

The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (UAF) offers a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) to eligible students. UAF has experienced significant enrollment growth, increasing from approximately 29,000 students in 2021 to more than 34,000 students in 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing flagship universities in the region. Fall 2025 enrollment totaled 34,161 students, including 29,252 undergraduate students, 4,508 graduate students, and 401 law students.

Health insurance coverage is mandatory for all international students. Waiver criteria are established and maintained by a multidisciplinary SHIP Committee. Graduate Assistants and Teaching Assistants may elect to enroll in the SHIP or submit proof of comparable coverage that satisfies the university's waiver requirements.

Domestic students are not required to maintain university-sponsored health insurance. However, eligible students may voluntarily enroll in the SHIP if they are enrolled in at least six (6) undergraduate credit hours or at least one (1) graduate credit hour during the applicable enrollment period.

The Desired Experience

The University of Arkansas - Fayetteville is specifically interested in learning about the following services:

The student health insurance broker and administrator is expected to function as the University's strategic advisor and operational partner, providing comprehensive services related to insurance procurement, carrier negotiations, compliance guidance, enrollment administration, financial reporting, and student advocacy.

Respondents should demonstrate their ability to deliver these services and add value to the University's Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). The questions that follow are designed to evaluate each firm's expertise, experience, resources, and approach to meeting these expectations.

Overview & Population Expertise

Student Health Insurance Experience

Describe your experience serving university-sponsored student health insurance plans.

How many higher education clients do you currently serve, and what percentage are student health plans?

What differentiates your approach to student health insurance from traditional employer-sponsored plans?

International Student Expertise

Describe your experience with international student populations and visa-related insurance requirements.

How do you support compliance with university requirements for international students?

What strategies have you used to improve enrollment and understanding among international students?

Compensation Structure

How is your firm compensated for services provided to UARK?

Identify all commissions, overrides, incentives, bonuses, administrative allowances, revenue-sharing arrangements, consulting fees, and any other form of direct or indirect compensation you may receive.

Describe historical or expected commissions from student health insurance carriers.

Do you offer a fee-based compensation model in lieu of commissions?

If so, please describe the structure and associated costs.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of fee-based versus commission-based arrangements for a university client?

How would your firm define its fiduciary relationship with UARK?

Will your firm agree, in writing, to act as a fiduciary and place UARK's interests ahead of its own financial interests?

Describe the process your firm uses to mitigate conflicts of interest.

Carrier Market Access & Procurement

Carrier Relationships

Which medical, dental, and vision carriers would you approach on UARK's behalf?

Describe your relationships with major student health insurance carriers.

How do you ensure a competitive and unbiased marketing process?

Market Negotiation

Please provide examples of premium savings or enhanced benefits negotiated for clients similar to UARK within the last three years.

What strategies do you use during carrier negotiations to achieve favorable renewals?

Data Analytics & Reporting

Data Analytics

What claims analytics capabilities do you provide?

How do you identify emerging cost drivers and utilization trends?

Can you provide examples of actionable recommendations that resulted from your analytics?

Reporting

Provide examples of standard and customized reports.

Can reports be stratified by student demographics, utilization patterns, or enrollment categories?

What reporting capabilities are available through online dashboards?

Can you meet the expectation to provide quarterly reports and hold meetings with the student health insurance committee to discuss?

Campus Health Center Collaboration

Describe your experience integrating student health insurance plans with campus health centers.

How would you work collaboratively with Pat Walker Health Center and Counseling and Psychological Services to enhance care coordination and student access?

What recommendations would you make to maximize utilization of the campus health center as a cost-effective site of care?

How do you support referral management between the student health center and community providers?

Compliance & Regulatory Support

Compliance

How do you assist clients in maintaining compliance with federal and state regulations applicable to student health insurance?

Describe your process for monitoring regulatory changes and communicating impacts to clients.

What compliance-related resources and support are included in your services?

Enrollment & Communications

Student Communications

How do you support enrollment, waiver processes, and student education?

What communication materials and outreach strategies do you provide?

Describe your collaboration with campus partners who assist in the waiver and enrollment process.

How do you measure engagement and effectiveness of student communications?

Technology

Describe any enrollment, waiver, eligibility, or reporting platforms available to UARK.

What self-service capabilities are available to students and university administrators?

Service Guarantees & Accountability

Performance Guarantees

Do you offer service-level agreements (SLAs) or performance guarantees?

If so, what remedies are available if performance standards are not achieved?

Issue Resolution

Describe your escalation process for resolving complex member, provider, or university concerns.

Provide examples of significant issues you have resolved for clients.

Service Team & On-Site Support

Account Management

Describe the proposed service team that would support UARK.

Identify the individuals who would serve as the primary day-to-day contacts and their roles.

Describe the experience of the proposed team serving higher education clients and student health insurance programs.

On-Site Student Health Insurance Representative

UARK has a longstanding model of maintaining an on-site student health insurance representative employed by the broker. Would your firm continue this arrangement?

If yes, please describe your proposed on-site staffing model, including position responsibilities, expected hours of on-site coverage, supervision structure, training, and continuity planning.

How would the on-site representative collaborate with the Pat Walker Health Center, university administration, students, and carrier personnel?

If the incumbent on-site representative is interested and qualified, would your firm consider retaining that individual as part of the transition?

Renewal Strategy

Renewal Planning

Describe your annual renewal process and timeline.

How far in advance of renewal would you present recommendations and market analysis?

What factors do you evaluate when determining whether to remarket a plan versus negotiating with an incumbent carrier?

Innovation & Strategic Planning

Strategic Partnership

How do you assist clients in developing multi-year benefits strategies?

What emerging trends in student health insurance should UARK be monitoring?

Describe an innovative solution your firm implemented that significantly improved member experience, access, outcomes, or cost containment.

Client Outcomes

Please provide three higher education references of similar size and complexity.

For each reference, describe measurable outcomes achieved, including premium savings, plan enhancements, improved student satisfaction, enrollment outcomes, or healthcare utilization improvements.

Describe a challenging client situation and how your firm successfully addressed it. Answer should be different than that described in the issue resolution.

If selected, what would be your top three opportunities for improving UARK's student health insurance program during the first two years of engagement, and how would you measure success?

Instructions to Respondents

The anticipated timeline for this RFI is as follows:

Questions regarding the contents of this RFI should be submitted via email to Heather Jorgensen at no later than 5:00 p.m. CST on 10/29/2026. All responses to questions received will be made directly to sender, via email.

Respondents are asked to submit responses to this RFI on or before 500p.m. CST on 10/30/2026. One (1) electronic copies of the response should be deposited in the proper receptacle at . (NOTE: Take care to choose the CORRECT FOLDER NUMBER from the dropdown menu.)

Respondents are responsible for all costs associated with preparing a response to this RFI. The University will not be responsible for any supplier costs associated with preparing a response to this RFI.

Disposition of Responses

In accordance with Ark. Code Ann. 19-61-115(e), information provided in response to this RFI is exempt from the Freedom of Information Act of 1967, 25-19-101, et seq., until (1) the bids for a competitive sealed bidding procurement are opened publicly; (2) the notice of anticipation to award is given for a competitive sealed proposal procurement; or (3) a decision is made not to pursue a procurement based on this RFI.

Responses should not contain material considered by the respondent to be confidential under state or federal law for any reason including being proprietary, copyrighted, or capable of giving an unfair advantage to competitors.

The University shall have the right to use all ideas, or adaptations of those ideas, contained in any response received to this RFI. While responses to this RFI are optional, all knowledgeable parties are strongly encouraged to provide complete responses.

The University may exercise the option to further discuss the details of the response with one or more respondents if it is determined to be in the best interest of the University.

Responding or not responding to this RFI shall not determine any future partnerships.

Responses will not be reviewed on a competitive basis and the University does not intend to establish or publish any formal results.

RFI Questionnaire

Responses are encouraged from any and all knowledgeable parties. It is recommended to format responses to coincide with the structure of this section.

Organization and Ownership

State your organization's legal name, address, and state of incorporation. If your organization is a subsidiary of a parent firm provide the same information for the parent company.

Please list all offices and the primary function of each office.

How many W-2 employees do you employ currently?

How long has your organization been operational?

Who do you consider your firm's 3 main competitors and why?

Summary of Solution

Provide a summary of your solution including but not limited to the following product/services (please include any presentations or other communications describing your product/services):

Scope and Extent of Use

Describe the scope of health insurance products, services, and administrative functions your organization provides.

Identify which functions are managed directly by your organization and which are provided through subcontractors, third-party administrators, or other partners.

Describe options for customizing plan design, eligibility requirements, coverage tiers, and benefit offerings.

Explain how your model supports coordination among medical, pharmacy, behavioral health, preventive care, and other covered services.

Capabilities

What capabilities support cost containment while maintaining quality, access, and member choice?

Describe your approach to managing high-cost claims, complex cases, and members with significant health care needs.

Identify capabilities that distinguish your organization from competitors, including any emerging or innovative service models.

Program Performance

How do you measure access to care, provider network adequacy, appointment availability, and member experience?

Describe your methods for evaluating claims accuracy, processing times, appeals, and complaint resolution.

Provide examples of measurable improvements achieved for comparable clients, including the timeframe and methodology used to assess results.

Technology

Describe the technology platforms used to administer benefits, process claims, manage eligibility, and support members.

What digital tools are available for members to review coverage, locate providers, estimate costs, access claims information, and manage prescriptions?

Describe the reporting dashboards, analytics tools, and data visualization capabilities available to institutional administrators.

Explain how the platform supports real-time or near-real-time access to claims, enrollment, utilization, and financial information.

Additional Information (Optional)

Identify any additional pertinent information that was not considered in the RFI.

Describe the general funding model(s) your organization would require to provide this product/service.