About this opportunity
AI summaryCarter County, Tennessee, seeks a qualified health insurance brokerage and consulting firm to design, implement, maintain, and improve its employee insurance benefits program. The selected broker will partner with the Finance Department to administer plans, evaluate claims experience, recommend cost-efficient arrangements, solicit carrier bids, and assist in negotiations and annual renewals. Additional duties include advising on regulatory compliance such as COBRA, HIPAA, and FMLA, as well as conducting quarterly on-site meetings with department heads and employees. Proposers must submit written questions via email to Carolyn Watson by 12:00 PM ET on November 16, 2026. Sealed proposals—consisting of one original, ten hard copies, and one searchable PDF on a USB flash drive—are due by 10:30 AM ET on November 25, 2026, at the Carter County Finance Office. The county evaluates offers based on company stability, team experience, brokerage and compliance services, subject matter expertise, and fees.
Scope of work
- Partner with the Finance Department in benefits administration and advisory services throughout the plan year
- Review and analyze claims experience, claim service, and claim administration
- Determine and recommend cost-efficient plan arrangements for employee health insurance coverage
- Prepare bid specifications and solicit proposals from group health insurance markets
- Negotiate with carriers regarding premiums, benefit levels, plan designs, and special terms
- Evaluate bids and bidders regarding administration, coverage, claims, networks, and solvency
- Advise on compliance issues including discrimination testing, Section 125, COBRA, HIPAA, Medicare, FMLA, and ACA
- Provide quarterly on-site meetings with employees and department heads to consult on insurance needs
How proposals are evaluated
| Criterion | Weight / scoring |
|---|---|
| Company overview, financial stability, and licensing (Questions 1–8) | Not specified |
| Proposed team, experience, public-sector clients, and references (Questions 9–17) | Not specified |
| Brokerage, consulting, compliance, and additional services (Questions 18–27) | Not specified |
| Subject matter expertise (Questions 28-35) | Not specified |
| Additional services and expertise (Questions 36-37) | Not specified |
| Outsourcing and partnership services (Question 38) | Not specified |
| Fees and service level agreements (Questions 39–44) | Not specified |
Minimum qualifications
- Authorized agent or broker for insurance companies, third party administrators, and other providers
- Proof that the company carries Errors and Omissions Insurance Coverage
- Demonstrated financial stability through audited financial statements or acceptable evidence
Documents to include with your response
- Signed proposal organized by Proposal Questionnaire responses
- Audited financial statements and annual report (or alternative evidence of financial stability)
- Proof of Errors and Omissions Insurance Coverage
- At least three references of equivalent clients
- List of authorized insurance companies, TPAs, and provider affiliations
- Vendor Information and Anti-Collusion Statement
- State of Tennessee Non-Boycott of Israel Certification
- Written acknowledgement of each addendum
- Exceptions to RFP terms or County contract form, if any
- Sample contract if a minimum contract period applies
Key dates
- RFP posted
- 11/05/2026
- RFP issued
- November 5, 2026
- Written questions due
- 12:00 PM ET, Monday, November 16, 2026
- Answers issued by addendum
- by 5:00 PM ET, Friday, November 20, 2026
- Proposals due
- 10:30 AM ET, Wednesday, November 25, 2026
- Public opening
- immediately following the 10:30 AM ET deadline, Wednesday, November 25, 2026
- Short-listed proposers notified
- by 4:00 PM ET, Monday, November 30, 2026
- Presentations to the Financial Management Committee
- beginning 10:00 AM ET, Wednesday, December 2, 2026
- Recommendation to the Full County Commission
- Monday, December 21, 2026
- Agent/Broker of Record effective
- [TDB]
How to submit
- Method
- Sealed hard copy and digital copy via USB flash drive
- Instructions
- Submit one original and ten (10) copies plus a digital copy (searchable PDF on a USB flash drive) in a sealed envelope or package plainly marked 'RFP – Employee Health Insurance Brokerage Services' with proposer's name and address to Carter County Finance Department, 801 East Elk Avenue, Suite 203, Elizabethton, TN 37643. No oral, phone, email, or faxed proposals.
Contract details
- Place of performance
- Elizabethton, TN
- Insurance and bonding
- Proof that your company carries Errors and Omissions Insurance Coverage.