Project Information

Bid Title

RFQ for professional Health and Benefits Consultant Services

Issuing Agency

Lackawanna County

Location

Pennsylvania

Published Date

May 12, 2026

Closing Date

May 29, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

Services

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

RFQ for professional Health and Benefits Consultant Services

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a fair and open process, emailed submissions will be received by the County of Lackawanna Board of Commissioners at its offices at 123 Wyoming Ave., 6th floor, Scranton, on Friday, May 29, 2026, by 4 p.m., for professional Health and Benefits Consultant Services.

All questions regarding this RFQ should be made in writing to the Board of Commissioners, c/o Traci Harte (HarteT@lackawannacounty.org). If at any time this RFQ requires revision, an amendment will be posted to the county’s website.

Read the RFQ for professional Health and Benefits Consultant Services here.

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LACKAWANNA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

HEALTH AND BENEFITS CONSULTANT SERVICES

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a fair and open process, emailed submissions will

be received by the County of Lackawanna (the "County") Board of Commissioners ("Board of

Commissioners") at its offices at 123 Wyoming Ave, 6th floor, Scranton, Pennsylvania 18503, on

Friday May 29, 2026, by 4:00 P.M., for professional Health and Benefits Consultant Services.

A. PURPOSE: The purpose of this Request for Qualifications is to solicit interest from

qualified firms and/or individuals to provide professional services for the County. A

qualified firm and/or individual will be selected through a competitive, quality-based, fair

and open process at the sole discretion of the County.

B. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Qualifications must be submitted to the Board of Commissioners, c/o Deputy

Chief of Staff Traci Harte via email at HarteT@lackawannacounty.org and a

hard copy must also follow in a sealed envelope or package, and must be

clearly marked on the outside with the vendor’s name/address with the name

of the RFQ clearly displayed. Please mail to: Traci Harte, Lackawanna County

Government Center, 123 Wyoming Ave, 6th Floor, Scranton PA 18503.

2. The County assumes no responsibility for delays in any form of delivery

service causing the submission to be received after the above-referenced due

date and time. Submission by fax is not permitted. The final selection shall be

made at the sole discretion of the Board of Commissioners.

3. All questions regarding this Request for Qualifications should be made in

writing to the Board of Commissioners, c/o Traci Harte,

HarteT@lackawannacounty.org; you will receive a response in 24-48 hours. If

at any time this RFQ requires revision, an amendment will be posted to the

County’s Website. It is the responsibility of the vendor to monitor the website

for any amendments.

C. BACKGROUND: BACKGROUND: The County of Lackawanna employs

approximately 1,100 permanent-full-time employees as well as part-time, temporary,

and seasonal employees who do not receive health benefits. The County currently has

a self-funded health insurance program with a $175,000 stop-loss deductible. The

Plan is administered by Benecon and is a participant in the Pennsylvania Counties

Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperative (PCHIPC). Participating health benefits

providers include:

a.

Highmark Blue BCBS (HMO and PPO)

b.

Geisinger Health Plan (HMO)

c.

Aetna (EPO)

d.

CVS Caremark administered by RxBenefits (prescription drug)

e.

Guardian (dental)

f.

National Vision Administrators (vision)

g.

New York Life (voluntary life insurance)

h.

Amerihealth (workers compensation) now known as Claims Resolution

Corporation, Inc

i.

DeHey McAndrew (FSA/Dep Reimb.)

The County is a party to seven (7) collective bargaining agreements (available on the

County’s website). Participating employees are required to contribute to the cost of

health benefits.

D. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF QUALIFICATIONS: The Board of Commissioners

will independently evaluate each submission, and selection will be made upon the following

criteria:

1. Experience and reputation in the field;

2. Knowledge of the subject matter of the services to be provided to the County;

3. Knowledge of the County, its affairs and operations;

4.Availability to accommodate any requests for attendance at meetings of the County;

5.Other factors determined to be in the best interest of the County.

E. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: The Board of Commissioners is requesting

qualifications for Human Resources Contractor, which should include:

1. Scope of Services.

2. Resume(s).

3. Facilities - Office Locations.

4. General Requirements.

The following explains what the Board of Commissioners expects in each of the major sections:

1. Scope of Services -

a. Conduct market analysis for rates, fees and coverage for current

insurance plans. Make recommendations and set action plans for

upcoming renewals. Review the risk and market trends that will

impact these plans.

b. Work as a liaison with new suppliers of coverage by developing

communication and implementation plans.

c. Calculate and recommend employee contribution rates, provide

equivalent monthly premiums and monthly COBRA rate

calculations for Medical, RX, Dental and Vision for the upcoming

year, by October 30th.

d. Negotiate renewal options with current carriers.

e. Coordinate its health insurance and ancillary products from

reputable insurance carriers, finding the desired products at the

most competitive prices.

f. Review monthly claims summary analysis (including complete

review of all self-funded coverage).

g. Provide Open Enrollment support.

h. Quarterly meetings on performance of plans.

i. Market Stop Loss coverage.

j. Provide Legislative and Compliance updates on a timely basis.

k. Provide HIPAA and Confidentiality compliance updates on a timely

basis.

l. Provide support in addressing client questions/issues.

m. Assistance with the 1095C reporting and distribution process.

n. Assistance and reporting of all data entry errors post-enrollment at

the benefit consultant level.

o. Assist with Collective Bargaining negotiations as needed and

conduct/present/coordinate all potential plan design changes to all

necessary stakeholders.

p. Continuous review and monitoring of benefit plans and recommend

changes that improve the County’s cost effectiveness and efficiency.

q. Consultant shall maintain the County health benefits portal.

2. Resume - All resumes submitted to the County shall include the following:

a. Name and address of your firm and the corporate officer authorized

to execute agreements.

b. A brief description of your firm's history, ownership, organizational

structure, location of its management, and licenses to do business in

the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

c. The names, experience, qualifications, and applicable licenses held

by the individuals primarily responsible for servicing the County

and any other person(s), whether as employees or subcontractors,

with specialized skills that would be assigned to service the County.

Please include any prior work performed for the County by any of

the individuals.

d. A listing of governmental clients with which you have similar

contracts; include the name, address and telephone number of the

contact person.

e. A statement of your firm's insurance coverage. Firms must provide

an insurance certificate specific to the County in responding to this

RFQ.

f.

A statement of assurance to the effect that your firm is not currently

in violation of any regulatory rules and regulations that may have

any impact on your firm's operations.

g. A statement of innovative strategic solution(s) you have

implemented for clients similar to the County that highlights your

expertise.

3. Facilities - Office Locations

a. For your firm's facilities which will service this project:

i. The location;

ii. Firm Personnel assigned to this location; and

iii. Activities of the firm performed at this location.

b. For those facilities and activities located elsewhere, please explain

the activities performed elsewhere and why these are best performed

at a different office. Firms where all activities are performed at one

location should indicate there is only one location.

4. General Requirements

a. Consultant must be independent from any benefits insurance provider,

including income, incentives, or fees from any carriers as a result of

contracting with the County of Lackawanna.

b. The Consultant shall certify to the County that it meets all applicable local,

state, and federal requirements regarding employment and professional

standards.

c. The Consultant shall be responsible for the integrity of all work required by

this RFQ.

d. This RFQ and the Consultant’s proposal shall be considered a part of the

project Agreement.

e. Consultant must have experience working with self-insured, public

employers.

f. Consultant must have broad experience with all benefits options, including

life, health, vision, dental, prescription, and wellness programs.

g. Consultant hall be considered and Independent Contractor and not

considered and employee(s) of the County of Lackawanna.

h. A statement that the prospective firm/individual is not involved in any

current litigation with the County of Lackawanna or its component units.

F. COMMUNICATION WITH COUNTY OFFICIALS: All communications during this

process should be directed to the Office of the Lackawanna County Chief of Staff. Any firm that

makes any effort to communicate with any other official of Lackawanna County, either directly or

indirectly, during this process will be EXCLUDED from consideration.

G. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS: The Board of Commissioners reserves the right to reject any

and all submissions, in whole or in part, and to waive any immaterial defect or informality in any

proposal as may be permitted by law.

H. SELECTED CANDIDATE: Please be advised that the selected candidate will not be entitled

to collect/receive commissions from any/all healthcare vendors who work in relationship with

Lackawanna County.

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
• NAICS 541990All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

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