Policy is not just what you say, or how you allocate resources, it’s what you buy. RFPs identify business opportunities, but they are also a neglected primary source for research on k-12 policy and operations.
From Monday’s issue of K-12Leads and Youth Service Markets Report.
Announcement: Auto & Home Insurance Due August 8 (Jul 25), Cobb County School District, Georgia
Their Description: Cobb County School District (hereafter referred to as “CCSD”) located in Marietta, Georgia, has contracted with Benalytics Consulting Group, LLC to assist with the solicitation of proposals from qualified companies capable of providing Group Auto & Homeowners Insurance for CCSD employees, effective 1/1/2009. In particular, the County is interested in your company’s ability to provide a competitive payroll deduction program with minimal involvement of CCSD HR and benefit staff, competitive rates and a comprehensive program that provides additional discounts and services to CCSD employees.
The Cobb County School District (CCSD) is the second largest school system in Georgia and employees 15,500 people. Occupations range from administrators, to teachers, bus drivers and custodians. Currently CCSD offers its employees a payroll deduction Group Auto & Homeowners program through MetLife. All premiums are fully paid by employees. There are approximately 173 employees currently participating in the Group Auto & Homeowners program....
The District’s primary objectives are to obtain a vendor with:
• Competitive product offerings with payroll deduction;
• Products with enhanced features and competitive discounts;
• Provide internet-based access and support to employees without increasing employee cost or CCSD administrative functions.
• Excellent administrative support and exceptional customer service to employees;
• A communication and delivery system promoting high quality, cost effective products to employees.
CCSD is requesting that responding vendors provide proposals for a program that would be available to all eligible active employees for Group Auto & Homeowners Insurance. CCSD is also requesting that all vendors waive any minimum participation requirements.
Responses to this RFP may serve as the basis for identifying finalists, if necessary.
Insurance Requirements
• Commercial General Liability with limits of at least $1,000,000.00 single / $2,000,000.00 aggregate. Coverage to include professional liability. Coverage must include products and completed operations with reporting of claims on occurrence basis.
• Umbrella Coverage in excess of GL and Auto of at least $2,000,000.00.
• Cobb County School District must be named as an additional insured on all applicable policies. The insurance carriers should be licensed to do business in the state of Georgia. The carriers must have an AM Best rating of A- or higher.
My Thoughts: I’m no expert here, but I have not had the sense from monitoring RFPs that this practice is ubiquitous.
The ability of schools and districts to offer employees low cost car and home insurance can only improve the attractiveness of job offers and employee retention.
Something for full-service providers to add to their stable of offerings, or firms involved in teacher recruitment to suggest to their clients?
Even the smallest of our 15,000 school districts might be profitable transactions.
K-12Leads and Youth Service Markets Report is a comprehensive weekly web-enabled report delivered by email on Monday. It covers grant and contract RFPs issued by every federal and state education and social services agency and every school district over the internet.
