Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Procurement Employee Benefits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ormond Beach commission narrows broker RFP, changes experience and geography requirements
Summary
After an extended discussion about competition and local preference, the City Commission directed staff to revise the request for proposals for broker-of-record services to require five years of experience and to limit the geographic qualification language to Florida municipalities; the motion passed with two abstentions.
The Ormond Beach City Commission on a voice vote instructed staff to revise the city’s request for proposals for employee benefits broker-of-record services, reducing a minimum-experience requirement and narrowing the geographic preference language after an extended debate about competition and local preference.
The commission approved a motion to require at least five years of relevant experience (rather than the RFP's original “10 years under the same broker name”) and to change the geographic reference to “Florida municipalities.” The motion was seconded and later carried; Commissioner Tolland and Commissioner Sargent recorded abstentions during the final vote.
The change followed multiple commissioners' concerns that the RFP, as drafted, could exclude potentially competitive firms. Commissioner Howard Riley argued the RFP "is limiting who can participate" and suggested the minimum qualifications be softened so smaller or recently acquired local brokers would not be ruled out. Commissioner Chris Dean said reducing the 10-year standard to five years and specifying Florida rather than a narrower geographic area would improve competition and help the city get a better product.
City Attorney Randy Hayes told the commission the city could edit the RFP language immediately and that an ordinance would be required before adopting a formal local-preference policy for proposals. "Local preference ... is not something within your ordinance that can be incorporated" for proposals without an ordinance change, Hayes said; he advised the commission staff could make the word changes to the RFP now if the commission wanted.
Assistant City Manager Claire Whitley clarified that the RFP's request for brokers with high-deductible-plan experience was meant to reflect the city’s current plan but would not absolutely disqualify other firms: such experience would be part of the evaluation rather than an exclusion. Whitley also said the broker chosen would later solicit plan options from carriers on the city’s behalf.
After discussion, Commissioner Riley moved to adopt minimum qualifications of five years' experience without requiring the same broker name, and to set the geographic requirement to Florida municipalities. Commissioner Dean seconded. When the city clerk called the vote, Commissioners Tolland and Sargent said “abstain”; Commissioner Deaton, Commissioner Brawley and Mayor Jason Leslie voted yes. City staff said they will implement the edits before posting the RFP and will circulate the revised language to commissioners for their records.
The text of the RFP and the final evaluation criteria remain to be posted; staff said the selection process will continue to evaluate overall qualifications, client-executive experience and the range of plan options the broker will make available.
