What the buyer needs
AI summaryThe South Dakota Board of Regents seeks competitive proposals for fully insured international student health care coverage and administrative services for its six member universities. The selected vendor must provide multilingual customer service, a dedicated account manager, web-based administration and online self-enrollment, claims administration, quarterly meetings, workshops, and mid-year and year-end reports. Only onshore US organizations are eligible to bid, and work will be performed offsite under a one-year contract. Questions are due by December 1, 2026, and proposals must be submitted digitally via email or online no later than January 8, 2027. The South Dakota Board of Regents will evaluate proposals based on specialized expertise, available resources, past performance, ease of plan administration and online services, member support, and price.
Scope of work
- Assist students in understanding the U.S. healthcare system, finding care, and filing claims.
- Provide at least two compliant plan options meeting 22 CFR 62.14 with minimum $500,000 USD medical benefits.
- Maintain a non-reimbursement policy where medical bills are paid directly by the insurer to providers.
- Provide web-based administrative capabilities, online self-enrollment, medical cards, and claim information review.
- Provide a dedicated account manager, primary point of contact (3-working-day response), and multilingual customer service.
- Meet quarterly with SDBOR staff and provide mid-year and year-end comprehensive claims reports.
- Provide annual in-person customer support workshops and virtual workshops as needed.
- Provide required intercollegiate athletics (NCAA) rider or separate coverage.
How proposals are evaluated
| Criterion | Weight / scoring |
|---|---|
| Specialized expertise, capabilities, and technical competence | Not specified |
| Resources available to perform the work, including specialized services | Not specified |
| Record of past performance, including price and cost data, quality, schedules, cost control, and contract administration | Not specified |
| Ease of plan administration and availability of online enrollment functions and online portal | Not specified |
| Ability to provide strong administrative support and member services to the SDBOR | Not specified |
| Price | Not specified |
Minimum qualifications
- Onshore (US Organization Only)
- Not in arrears upon any obligations to the State of South Dakota
- Not debarred, suspended, or excluded from Federal transactions
- Not owned or controlled by a prohibited foreign entity (China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Cuba, or Venezuela)
- Compliance with non-discrimination and restriction of boycott of Israel (if 5+ employees and contract >= $100,000)
- At least three previous and current similar service contracts
Documents to include with your response
- Completed and signed State Request for Proposal form (1st page of RFP)
- Executive Summary (one to two pages)
- Detailed Response (narrative, point-by-point response, and options or alternatives)
- Cost Proposal (Section 7.0)
- Information on at least three previous and current similar contracts
- Detailed information regarding acceptable loss ratios
- A.M. Best rating for the proposed insurance carrier
How to submit
- Method
- Electronic via email
- Instructions
- One (1) electronic copy in Microsoft Word or PDF format emailed to the State POC with subject line REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL # SDBOR11162026. Fax and mail responses will not be considered.