TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 13, 2026
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. John P. Murray, Executive Director
Title
Issue purchase order and enter into an agreement for Contract 26-RFP-06 Employee Benefits Consulting Services with Foster & Foster Consulting Actuaries, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $214,000.00, Account 101-25000-612430, Requisition 1649979
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement with Foster & Foster Consulting Actuaries, Inc. (Foster & Foster) to provide employee benefits consulting services to the District’s plans for the period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029.
On February 4, 2026, Contract 26-RFP-06 Employee Benefits Consulting Services was publicly advertised. On February 27, 2026, the District received two (2) responsive proposals from the following vendors: Deloitte Consulting, LLP and Foster & Foster Consulting Actuaries, Inc.
The proposals were evaluated by staff from the Human Resources Department, the Finance Department, and the Procurement and Materials Management Department. The criteria for these evaluations were outlined in request for proposal Contract 26-RFP-06 and included: understanding of the services; approach to the work; technical competence of the firm and assigned consultants; financial stability; compliance with insurance requirements; submission of licenses/permits; and cost. Following the preliminary evaluation of the proposals, both proposers were invited to a finalist interview.
Finalist interviews were held on April 7, 2026. On April 20, 2026, a solicitation was sent to the finalists for an unqualified “best and final” offer. The “best and final” offers were submitted to the Director of Procurement and Materials Management on April 24, 2026.
Based on the evaluation of the proposals using the criteria described above and the pricing provided in the “best and final” offers, the evaluation committee has recommended that a contract for employee benefits consulting services be awarded to Foster & Foster. Foster & Foster has been providing employee benefits consulting and actuarial services since 1979. The firm has over 2,600 public sector clients ranging in size from 300 to 250,000 covered lives. They are familiar with the District health plans having provided healthcare valuation services to the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust. Foster & Foster has public sector procurement expertise that will be leveraged for the development and evaluation of proposals related to the District health plans. They provide clients with unbiased, independent recommendations regarding benefits programs and benefits strategies because they do not sell insurance products of their own, operate a health care exchange or accept commissions from insurance carriers. They have substantial experience providing collective bargaining support. Finally, the team assigned to the contract possesses a broad range of benefits consulting and health actuarial expertise.
The Minority and Women Business Enterprise goals for this contract are 5% MBE and/or WBE. The Diversity Section has reviewed the proposal and has concluded that Foster & Foster has met the requirements for Appendix A.
In view of the foregoing, it is requested that the Director of Procurement and Materials Management be authorized to award a contract to Foster & Foster Consulting Actuaries, Inc. in the amount of $214,000.00.
Funds for the 2026 expenditure in the amount of $20,000.00 are available in Account 101-25000-612430. The estimated 2027, 2028 and 2029 annual expenditures are $80,000.00, $104,000.00 and $10,000.00 respectively. Funds will be requested in 2027, 2028 and 2029 and are contingent on the Board of Commissioners’ approval of the District’s budget for those years.
Requested, James E. Fisher, Acting Director of Human Resources
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Director of Procurement and Materials Management
Respectfully Submitted, Precious Brady-Davis, Chairperson Committee on Procurement
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for August 13, 2026
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