RINGWOOD BOARD OF EDUCATION
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) – PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Notice is hereby given that the Ringwood Board of Education, 121 Carletondale Road, Ringwood, New Jersey 07456, is seeking proposals from qualified firms for the following professional services for the 2026-2027 school year:
Insurance & Risk Management (Property & Casualty) Broker of Record
Health Benefits Broker of Record
Sealed proposals must be received by the Business Office no later than May 29, 2026, at 11:00 A.M. at the address above. Proposals shall be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked with the name of the service being bid.
Standardized submission requirements and full RFP packages are available from the office of the School Business Administrator. Contact: Barbara Kuhn, Exec. Secretary to the SBA/BS Email: kuhnb@njrps.org
I. SCOPE OF SERVICES
A. Insurance & Risk Management (Property & Casualty) Broker of Record
The successful respondent shall provide comprehensive risk management and insurance brokerage services, including:
Marketing & Placement: Conduct annual marketing of the district's insurance program (Property, General Liability, Auto, Workers’ Compensation, Educators Legal Liability, etc.) to qualified carriers .
Risk Analysis: Review current policies, identify coverage gaps, and recommend appropriate limits and deductibles .
Claims Advocacy: Assist the district in the processing and settlement of claims, acting as a liaison with insurance carriers .
Safety & Loss Control: Coordinate with carriers to provide safety training and loss control inspections.
B. Health Benefits Broker of Record
The successful respondent shall manage all aspects of the district's employee benefit programs (Medical, Prescription, Dental, Vision):
Negotiation & Marketing: Negotiate renewals with existing carriers and market the program to alternative providers or Joint Insurance Funds (JIFs) to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Plan Design & Analysis: Analyze claims data and recommend plan design changes to manage costs while maintaining competitive benefits.
Compliance: Ensure the district remains in compliance with Federal and State laws, including ACA, COBRA, and HIPAA .
Employee Support: Assist in open enrollment, provide educational materials, and resolve complex member claims/billing issues .
II. MANDATORY SUBMISSION DOCUMENTS
All respondents MUST submit the following documents with their proposal. Failure to include mandatory statutory documents may result in the immediate rejection of the proposal [cite: 1.2, 2.1].
Document | Statutory Reference / Note |
New Jersey Business Registration Certificate (BRC) | N.J.S.A. 52:32-44 |
Affirmative Action Evidence | Form AA-302 or Certificate of Employee Information Report |
Chapter 271 Political Contribution Disclosure | N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.26 |
Stockholder Disclosure Certification | Statement of Ownership; N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2 |
Non-Collusion Affidavit | Properly notarized |
Disclosure of Investment Activities in Iran | N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-49.4 |
Russia-Belarus Certification | P.L. 2022, c. 3 |
W-9 Form | Request for Taxpayer Identification Number |
Proof of Insurance | Professional Liability / Errors & Omissions |
III. EVALUATION SCORING MATRIX
Proposals will be evaluated by a committee based on the following criteria pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-4.1 et seq. :
Category | Criteria Description | Weight |
Technical Criteria | Understanding of the district's needs, proposed methodology, and innovative approach to risk/cost management. | 35% |
Management Criteria | Qualifications of the firm and specific personnel assigned; experience with New Jersey Public Schools of similar size; references. | 35% |
Cost Criteria | Transparency and competitiveness of the fee or commission structure; total estimated cost to the district . | 30% |
IV. ETHICS IN PURCHASING
The Ringwood Board of Education maintains a strict policy regarding ethical behavior in procurement:
Recommendation of Purchases: All recommendations shall be based on quality, service, price, and delivery in full compliance with N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-1 et seq .
Gifts Prohibited: School officials and employees are prohibited from soliciting or receiving any gifts or items of value from vendors .
Vendor Influence: No vendor shall attempt to influence the objectivity of any Board official or employee.
Submission Instructions:
Proposals must be placed in a sealed envelope and clearly marked with the specific RFP title. One (1) original and two (2) copies are required .
BY ORDER OF THE RINGWOOD BOARD OF EDUCATION Sheryl Leidig, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary