Hillsborough County committee reviews disability-insurance RFP; Standard shows lowest employer cost, rate-cap differences noted

At a Hillsborough County evaluation committee meeting, procurement staff and the Baldwin Group presented an analysis of three proposals submitted in response to RFP 25-00033, a solicitation for fully insured short- and long-term disability benefits for county employees. Sakina Ford, the county’s chief buyer for the project, opened the session and reminded attendees that the meeting was recorded and that the county’s cone of silence remains in effect.

The Baldwin Group’s senior client manager, Jamie Loeb, summarized the review and told committee members that “for the most part, your employees, your colleagues are not gonna see a change in benefit plan design with 1 with any 1 of these carriers.” That stability, the consultant said, is evident across the three proposals from The Standard; MetLife; and OCHS, Inc., submitting on behalf of Madison National Life.

Why it matters: the committee’s choice will affect Hillsborough County’s short- and long-term employer premium outlays, employee-paid premiums and the county’s budget exposure under a requested 10-year contract term. Cost differences and the presence or absence of multi-year rate caps were the primary distinctions discussed by procurement staff and the consultant.

Key findings presented by the Baldwin Group: - Proposers: The Standard; MetLife; and OCHS, Inc., on behalf of Madison National Life. The proposal from OCHS/Madison would make the county’s contract with OCHS rather than directly with Madison National Life, and OCHS would handle escalations and…