Item Description:
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Agmt PR00008508 with Willis Towers Watson to provide insurance broker and related services, forensic accounting and complex claims services for the period 08/21/26-08/31/28, NTE $208,955
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Agreement PR00008508 with Willis Towers Watson to provide insurance broker and related services during the period August 21, 2026 through August 31, 2028, in the not to exceed amount of $208,955, be approved; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the Agreement on behalf of the County, the County Administrator be authorized to later negotiate and sign a two-year extension to the Agreement, and approve claims or related expenses ; that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed; and that, should it be in the best interest of the County; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to award insurance policies brokered pursuant to M.S. 383B.102 and M.S. 383B.143, whether through Willis Towers Watson or another contracted insurance broker; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Administrator may delegate the duties of awarding insurance policies to the Director of the Office of Budget and Finance.
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Background:
Since 2005, the County has contracted with external firms to provide insurance broker services. These services are competitively bid approximately every five to six years. In February 2026, the County issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking an insurance broker to support the County’s property and casualty insurance, cyber security insurance, HERC property and casualty and environmental insurance, and other related services.
To avoid conflicts of interest, the RFP required that the selected broker be compensated only by the County. This means the broker cannot receive “contingent commissions” or other payments from insurance companies. These types of commissions have been widely discussed in national business media as potentially creating conflicts for brokers who place insurance coverage.
The agreement includes a not to exceed amount of $208,955 over three years (a 2% increase from the current agreement). This amount covers broker services and the cost of placing insurance policies but does not include the insurance premiums themselves. Insurance premiums are paid separately after Willis completes the placement process.
Insurance placement through Willis includes the County’s property and casualty insurance, cyber security insurance, HERC property and casualty, environmental insurance and related policies. The estimated premiums for these insurance policies are approved annually by the Board during the budget process.
This request funds services that are: core services
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval