Insurance Broker - Penobscot County

Start Date: August 08, 2025
End Date: August 21, 2025
Type: Requests for Proposals (RFP)
Phone: 207-814-0095
Email: [email protected]
More Information: Click Here

Issue Date: August 7th, 2025

Proposal Due Date: August 21, 2025

Contact Person: Toni Dyer, HR Director

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 207-814-0095

1. Introduction

The County of Penobscot is soliciting proposals from qualified insurance brokers to provide limited-scope insurance consulting and brokerage services. The selected broker will assist in the management of group benefit plans, with a focus on annual renewals, rate monitoring, and potential carrier review every 3 to 5 years. The broker must have experience working with unionized environments and managing plans across multiple CBAs (Collective Bargaining Agreements).

2. Scope of Services

The selected broker will be expected to perform the following services:

- Manage annual health, dental, vision, life, and other benefit plan renewals.

- Evaluate rate changes and trends; provide benchmarking and analysis.

- Serve as liaison with insurance carriers on behalf of the organization.

- Provide recommendations on plan design and cost-containment strategies.

- Ensure compliance with relevant federal and state insurance regulations.

- Review and recommend carrier options at a minimum of every 3 to 5 years.

- Support the administration of benefit plans across multiple CBAs.

- Provide guidance on emerging benefit trends and regulatory impacts.

3. Organizational Overview

The County is a government entity with approximately 200 benefit eligible employees. We maintain several collective bargaining agreements that include varying benefit structures and eligibility criteria. The selected broker must demonstrate the capacity to navigate and support union-specific benefit arrangements.

4. Proposal Requirements

Interested brokers must submit a proposal that includes the following:

- Company overview and qualifications.

- Experience with public sector or unionized employers.

- Description of approach to annual renewals and rate monitoring.

- Sample reports or tools used for renewal analysis or rate tracking.

- Approach to carrier marketing/review every 3–5 years.

- Description of account management structure and team.

- Client references (preferably within the public sector or with CBA complexity).

- Fee structure (commission-based, fee-for-service, or hybrid).

- Certificate of insurance and applicable licensure.

5. Proposal Submission Instructions

Submit proposals in sealed mailer to: (Outside mailer MUST indicate a sealed bid or proposal inside for security)

 County of Penobscot

Attn: Toni Dyer, HR Director (INSURANCE PROPOSAL)

97 Hammond Street

Bangor, ME 04401

OR:

via email (PDF format preferred) to [email protected]  no later than August 21, 2025. Late submissions may not be considered.

The County cannot guarantee the security of proposals sent via email and prefers hard copy mail for this purpose.

6. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following:

- Relevant experience and qualifications.

- Demonstrated ability to support CBA benefit structures.

- Strength of approach to renewals and rate monitoring.

- Cost-effectiveness of proposed fee structure.

- Quality of references and client feedback.

- Responsiveness and clarity of proposal.

7. Timeline

- RFP Release Date: August 7, 2025

- Deadline for Questions: August 14, 2025

- Proposal Due Date: August 21, 2025

- Interviews (if needed): August 13, 2025

- Selection Notification: September 3, 2025

- Target Start Date: Renewal Season 2025 for 2026.  No change in plans for 2026 year, only renewals ‘as is’ set up now.

8. Additional Information

The County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive informalities and minor irregularities in proposals received, and to accept any portion of a proposal or all items proposed if deemed in the best interest of the organization.