TOWNSHIP OF NORTH BERGEN
County of Hudson
State of New Jersey
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
FAIR & OPEN PUBLIC SOLICITATION PROCESS
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
RFP 2026-16 Health Benefits Consultant
Submission Date:
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
11:00 A.M. prevailing time
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TOWNSHIP OF NORTH BERGEN
PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THE SOLICITATION OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
FOR HEALTH BENEFITS CONSULTANT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed request for proposal submissions will be received by the Township
of North Bergen Purchasing Agent for the services set forth below in accordance with the “fair and open process”
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5, et seq.:
RFP#
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
⮚ RFP 2026-16 Health Benefits Consultant
Submission package may be examined or obtained at the Township Purchasing Office, Township of North
Bergen, 4233 Kennedy Boulevard, Lower Level, North Bergen, NJ, 07047 Phone 201-392-2040, Monday through
Friday, hours 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or downloadable on the Township’s website www.northbergen.org/notices.
Request for proposals (“RFP”) responses shall be submitted to Carmen Borrell, Purchasing Agent, Township
of North Bergen, 4233 Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen, NJ, 07047, on or before Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at
11:00 am prevailing time, at which time said responses will be publicly opened and read in the Municipal
Chambers.
Responses must be enclosed in a sealed envelope. The service provider must indicate the following on the
outside of the envelope: (1) the name and address of the service provider; (2) the RFP# and Title of the
Professional Service for which the response is submitted; and (3) “Sealed RFP Response”. Responses may be
delivered by hand, overnight courier or mail. The envelope containing the response must be received by the
Township of North Bergen by the date and time set forth above. No late responses will be accepted.
All professional service contractors are required to comply with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 52:32-44
(Business Registration of Public Contractors), N.J.S.A. 10:5-31, et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27 (Contract Compliance
and Equal Employment Opportunities in Public Contracts), N.J.S.A. 52:32-60.1 Certification of Non-
Involvement in prohibited activities in Russia or Belarus.
Contracts will be awarded based on the most advantageous responses. The Township of North Bergen
reserves the right to reject any or all responses.
Carmen M. Borrell
Purchasing Agent
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INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS
Proposals are being solicited through a fair and open process in accordance with N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20, et seq.
Respondents should submit an original and one copy of their proposals.
Respondent will be selected based upon an evaluation of the most advantageous proposal, price, and other factors.
Respondents are expected to examine the RFP with care and observe all its requirements. All questions about the
meaning or intent of this RFP shall be submitted in writing no less than 5 days prior to the due date of the proposal.
All interpretations and clarifications considered necessary by the Township’s representative in response to such
comments and questions shall be responded to no less than 3 days prior to the due date of the proposal and will
be posted online at www.northbergen.org/notices.
The Township assumes no responsibility and liability for costs incurred by the Respondents prior to the issuance
of an agreement. The liability of the Township shall be limited to the terms and conditions of the contract.
Respondents will assume responsibility for all costs not stated in their proposals. All unit rates either stated in the
proposal or used as a basis for its pricing are required to be all-inclusive. Additional charges, unless incurred for
additional work performed by request of the Township, are not to be billed and will not be paid.
Any contract entered into between the Respondent and the Township must be in accordance with and subject to
compliance by both parties with the New Jersey Local Public Contracts Law. The Respondent must agree to
comply with the nondiscrimination provisions and all other laws and regulations applicable to the performance
of services there under. The Respondent shall sign and acknowledge such forms and certificates as may be
required by this section.
No corporation or partnership shall be awarded any contract for the performance of any work or the furnishing of
any goods, unless, with receipt of the proposal of said corporation or partnership, there is submitted a statement
setting forth the names and addresses of all stockholders in the corporation or partnership who own ten (10)
percent or greater interest therein. The Respondent shall complete and submit the form of statement that is
included in this RFP.
The right to reject any or all proposals and to waive immaterial formalities is reserved by the Township.
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SCOPE OF SERVICES & EVALUATION CRITERIA
RFP 2026-16 Health Benefits Consultant
The Township of North Bergen, New Jersey, is seeking proposals from qualified, independent, and non-broker-
aligned consulting firms to provide comprehensive strategic, financial, and operational oversight assistance to the
Township for its employee Health Benefits program. The selected consultant will act as a Fiduciary to the
Township and provide data-driven employee benefits advice and analytics focused on cost control, underwriting
outcomes, and long-term sustainability for active employees and retirees.
Scope of Services,
The selected consultant will:
•
Analyze and recommend optimal plan designs
•
Audit claims and payments of claims
• Provide collective bargaining support during contract negotiations by providing financial
modeling and impact analysis of the proposed plan design changes, premiums-sharing structures
(such as chapter 78 contributions), and wellness initiatives.
•
Audit and verify employee Health Benefit compliance under Chapter 78.
•
Audit pharmacy benefit managers and stop loss coverage to eliminate waste.
•
Review claims experience, administrative fees, and stop loss premium costs.
•
Review audits of prescription drug rebate distribution, formulary changes, and specialty
medication management.
•
Develop annual premium rate projections and multi-year financial forecasts for all health benefits
programs.
•
Calculate incurred but not reported (IBNR) claims reserves.
•
Objectively review, and evaluate proposed renewals, performance guarantees, and contract terms
for all Health Benefits Programs.
•
Prepare and present bi- annual or annual Health Benefits performance reports to the Township.
•
Attend monthly virtual Health Benefits meetings with township officials and brokers.
•
Interact and interface with brokers on various program workflows
• Respond and provide recommendations to requests made by the Township regarding any
Employee Health Benefits financial issues.
Minimum Qualifications for Applicants:
• Must operate as an independent consultant
• Must demonstrate a minimum of five consecutive years of experience advising New Jersey
Municipal Government on School Boards on Public employee Health Benefits.
• Must possess a valid and active New Jersey Insurance producer license for Life and Health
Authorities (retained strictly for technical access and consulting credentials, not for writing
commission-based business).
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Evaluation Criteria:
• Experience and reputation in the field.
• Knowledge of the Township of North Bergen and matters concerning the Township of North
Bergen and of the subject matter to be addressed under the contract.
• Availability to attend Township meetings and other matters as required.
• Availability of personnel and other resources to provide such services.
• Other factors to be demonstrated to be in the interest of the Township of North Bergen.
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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
