The Group Insurance Commission voted unanimously to authorize a consultant contract with Boston Benefit Partners, now part of the Alara Group, to support procurement of life and long‑term disability (LTD) coverage.

Commissioner Cameron McBean, the GIC director of vendor management, told commissioners the procurement team reviewed best and final offers from the incumbent (Boston Benefit Partners/Alara Group), Lockton and Mercer and recommended staying with the incumbent because of their familiarity with the GIC’s structure and staff. "Our recommendation is actually to stay with the incumbent who is Boston Benefit Partners now known as Alara Group," McBean said during the meeting.

McBean and staff described the evaluation as weighing interview performance, technical submissions and supplier diversity scores. Commissioners asked about supplier diversity scoring and post‑award accountability. McBean said supplier diversity is scored under the Commonwealth’s mandate and that larger national brokerages sometimes face challenges documenting the required percentage of spending with qualifying diverse subcontractors. He added that vendors self‑report annually to the Commonwealth’s supplier diversity office and that GIC staff also monitor performance.

A motion to approve the recommendation was made and seconded; roll call voting recorded the motion as passing unanimously. The consultant will help run the procurement and, after award, assist with annual stewardship reviews and performance evaluation of the life and LTD carriers.