Vision Benefits Services

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is soliciting Requests for Proposal (RFP) from qualified vendors to provide comprehensive vision benefits for its employees, with an effective contract start date of January 1, 2023. The core project requires vendors to administer all aspects of the vision benefits program, submitting an "Equal to or Better than Letter" that details their capability to match current benefits or clearly outline any proposed deviations. Key deliverables include a completed Vision Workbook, a pricing proposal with fees quoted net of commissions, and all other materials specified in the RFP package, which comprises a Census file, the Vision Workbook, current rates, and existing plan information. Prospective contractors must demonstrate a history of achieving favorable cost outcomes, encompassing both short-term and long-term savings for the City. A critical requirement is the provision of a high-quality provider network that ensures strong access for employees and minimal disruption during transition. All vendors are mandated to comply with New Jersey statutes, specifically N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27-1 et seq. for Affirmative Action, and N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2 regarding Stockholder/Partnership Disclosure. Furthermore, a current New Jersey Business Registration Certificate is a mandatory submission, and vendors must provide documentation of similar project experience with up to three public agencies in New Jersey within the past five years. Sealed proposals must be physically delivered to the Office of the Manager of the City of East Orange no later than August 16, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. In addition to the physical submission, electronic proposals must be sent simultaneously to City Administrator Solomon Steplight at Solomon.steplight@eastorange-nj.gov UNLOCK and to the broker, Conner Strong & Buckelew, at publicentityRFPsJL@connerstrong.com. UNLOCK Proposal documents are available for electronic delivery upon request via email to publicentityRFPsJL@connerstrong.com, UNLOCK requiring reference to "EAP REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL" and inclusion of the vendor's company information. All questions regarding the RFP process or legal submissions should be directed to the Manager in writing, while technical questions on vision benefits, claims, or coverages should be addressed to the Conner Strong representative. The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, and no proposal may be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days after the opening date.