Project Information

Bid Title

Employee Benefits Brokerage and Consulting Services

Issuing Agency

City of Newport

Location

Kentucky

Published Date

Apr 29, 2026

Closing Date

May 19, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Bid Title:	Employee Benefits Brokerage and Consulting Services
Category:	Invitation to Bidders
Status:	Open

Description: City of Newport, KY Request for Proposal Employee Benefits Brokerage and Consulting Services The City of Newport is accepting sealed proposals from qualified brokerage to provide administration of employee benefits for the City. Sealed proposals will be received by the Office of the City Clerk, Newport Municipal Building, 998 Monmouth Street, 2nd Floor, Newport, Kentucky 41071, until Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 10:00 am at which time proposals will be received and recorded; contents will not be publicly read. Proposals after this time will not be considered. Request for Proposal (RFP) documents and specifications may be obtained from the Office of the City Clerk at the address listed above or online at www.newportky.gov . All proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked: “RFP – Employee Benefits Brokerage and Consulting Services” Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing to: Tiffany Myers, City Clerk City of Newport 998 Monmouth Street Newport, Kentucky 41071 Email: For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address. The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive informalities, and accept the proposal deemed to be in the best interest of the City. * Bid Package is attached separately.* Publication Date/Time: 4/29/2026 8:00 AM Closing Date/Time: 5/19/2026 10:00 AM Related Documents: City of Newport_Health Insurance Broker_RFP 2026

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CITY OF NEWPORT

Employee Benefits Brokerage and Consulting Services

BID NOTICE AND SPECIFICATIONS

2026

Date Published: April 29, 2026

2026 NEWPORT CITY OFFICIALS

MAYOR

CITY COMMISSIONERS

CITY MANAGER

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR

CITY SOLICITOR

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

POLICE CHIEF

FIRE/EMS CHIEF

CITY CLERK

Thomas Guidugli, Jr.

Julie Smith-Morrow

Mike Radwanski

Ken Rechtin

Aaron Sutherland

John Hayden

Ray Ebert

Daniel Braun

Lenny Kuntz

Chris Fangman

Frank Peluso Jr.

Tiffany Myers

City of Newport, KY

Request for Proposal

Employee Benefits Brokerage and Consulting Services

The City of Newport is accepting sealed proposals from qualified brokerage to

provide administration of employee benefits for the City.

Sealed proposals will be received by the Office of the City Clerk, Newport

Municipal Building, 998 Monmouth Street, 2nd Floor, Newport, Kentucky 41071,

until Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 10:00 am at which time proposals will be

received and recorded; contents will not be publicly read. Proposals after this

time will not be considered.

Request for Proposal (RFP) documents and specifications may be obtained from

the Office of the City Clerk at the address listed above or online at

www.newportky.gov.

All proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked:

“RFP – Employee Benefits Brokerage and Consulting Services”

Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing to:

Tiffany Myers, City Clerk

City of Newport

998 Monmouth Street

Newport, Kentucky 41071

Email: tmyers@newportky.gov

The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive informalities, and

accept the proposal deemed to be in the best interest of the City.

CITY OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

Employee Benefits Consulting and

Brokerage Services

1. Introduction

The City of Newport, Kentucky (the “City”) is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to

provide employee benefits brokerage and consulting services for the City’s health and

benefit programs. The City is seeking a broker that can deliver exceptional service,

meaningful strategic support, strong reporting and analytics, and, most importantly,

practical solutions that improve affordability and long-term value for the City and its

employees.

This Request for Proposals (“RFP”) is intended to support the City’s evaluation and

selection of a broker and to establish a professional services relationship that aligns with

the City’s operational needs, benefits strategy, and financial objectives.

2. Background

The City currently maintains a self-funded employee health benefits program and related

benefits for an employee population of approximately 135 employees, with an estimated

102 enrolled employees excluding dependents. The medical plan renewal month is

January, and stop-loss coverage renews November 1, while benefits and accumulators

renew in January.

 Current medical offerings include four plans: True Cost 1, True Cost 2, HRA, and

HSA.

 Underlying medical coverages and medical management are the same across

plans; plan design is the principal difference among the options.

 The third-party administrator (“TPA”) is Custom Design Benefits in conjunction

with Jefferson Health Plan.

 The Pharmacy Benefit Manager is Kroger Prescription Plans; the PBM

relationship is managed by the TPA and not by the broker.

 The City has a specialty drug carveout.

 For True Cost 1 and True Cost 2, the City currently uses no network. For HRA

and HSA, the network is Medical Mutual of Ohio.

 Network and medical management relationships are managed by the TPA and

not by the broker.

 The City maintains direct contracts with St. Elizabeth, TriHealth, Christ Hospital,

and Cincinnati Children’s.

 The City offers Premise Health as a direct primary care / onsite clinic

arrangement shared with other local employers.

 Dental and vision benefits are managed through Custom Design Benefits, with

dental structured as self-funded.

 The Hartford is the current life insurance carrier.

 Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada is the current stop-loss carrier.

 The City has collective bargaining units; however, the health plan is sponsored

by the employer rather than the unions.

3. Objectives of the RFP

 Select a broker with demonstrated ability to improve affordability and help

manage health plan cost trends.

 Obtain high-quality service, proactive support, and strong account management

throughout the plan year.

 Secure robust reporting and analytics to support strategic, data-driven decisions.

 Ensure compensation is transparent and aligned with the City’s interests.

 Identify a broker with relevant experience supporting self-funded employers and

public-sector entities.

 Establish a contractual relationship with clear performance expectations, renewal

options, and termination rights.

4. Scope of Services

The selected broker shall serve as the City’s broker and strategic advisor for employee

benefits and shall provide, at a minimum, the following services:

 Collaborate with the Human Resources Coordinator on the City’s employee

benefits strategic plan.

 Provide financial forecasting, budget planning, and renewal planning support.

 Benchmark plan costs, vendor arrangements, and plan performance against

similarly situated municipalities and employers.

 Assist with administration of all group insurance and employee benefit plans

requested by the City.

 Assist with implementation of new programs, carriers, service arrangements, and

changes to existing programs.

 Respond to employee benefit inquiries as requested by the City and provide

benefit guidance and support.

 Provide consultative support throughout the plan year, not only at renewal.

 Coordinate with carriers, vendors, and service providers to resolve issues

affecting benefit programs.

 Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting employee benefits and

advise the City regarding compliance obligations.

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
• NAICS 541612Human Resources Consulting Services

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