Item Description:
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Amd 4 to Agmt PR00003259 with Mercer Health & Benefits, LLC, for the provision of actuarial, advisory and compliance services in support of the design and administration of employee benefit plans sponsored by Hennepin County, ext end date to 12/31/25, incr NTE by $20,000 for a new total NTE of $1,620,000
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Amendment 4 to Agreement PR00003259 with Mercer Health & Benefits, LLC, for the provision of actuarial, advisory and compliance services in support of the design and administration of employee benefit plans, extending the contract end date to December 31, 2025 and increasing the not to exceed amount by $20,000 for a new total not to exceed amount of $1,620,000 be approved; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the County; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
Since 1977, Hennepin County has contracted for employee benefit consulting and health care actuarial services for support in the design, administration, and funding of medical and other welfare benefit plans extended to county employees and retirees.
In 2021, after conducting a competitive request for proposal, Mercer Health & Benefits, LLC, was awarded this contract based on their technical expertise, data, tools, and experience. Since then, Mercer Health & Benefits, LLC, has been providing consultative, actuarial, claim analytics, cost management, performance monitoring, and other benefit plan management services and assisting the county in establishing employee benefit strategies, vendor and provider relationships, and program and risk management capabilities. This included providing strategic guidance in the selection and transition to a new third-party health plan administrator and pharmacy benefit manager with continued support to ensure effective implementation and plan performance.
Current request: Extend the contract to December 31, 2025, and increase the not to exceed amount by $20,000. Extending this contract will maintain consistency of subject matter expert support through the calendar year: consensus, actuarial analysis, open enrollment and annual updates, and alignment with county benefits programs and special projects. A Request for Proposal is in process for a benefits consultant contract to initiate 01/01/26.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval