Edinburg ISD Issues Gag Order During RFP Process

gagorder“To go from being ranked 2, 3 or 4 to #1 based upon a 20 minute presentation is a formidable task. To do so under a gag order takes it into the realm of impossibility.”

By Molly Mulebriar

The Edinburg Independent School District is currently in an active Request for Proposal (RFP) process for third party administration services of the ECISD self-funded employee health & welfare program.

The current third party administrator is Blue Cross & Blue Shield.

The evaluation ranking process has been completed. The top four ranked TPA’s are (1) Frates, (2) Coresource, (3) Blue Cross, (4) Continental Benefits.

The top four contenders have been invited to make a short 20 minute presentation to the ECISD Board of Trustees.

Following the presentations it is expected the board will act on an agenda action item to award TPA services.

To go from being ranked 2, 3 or 4 to #1 based upon a 20 minute presentation is a formidable task. To do so under a gag order takes it into the realm of impossibility.

The Gag Order limits vendor presentations to HOSOBS only (Home Office SOB’s).

The ECISD insurance consultant issued the gag order yesterday:

Good afternoon, this is to confirm your company will be attending workshop presentations  September 9th , 2015 beginning at 6 PM. The physical address is 411 North 8th St, Edinburg,  Texas, 2nd floor Board room. Presenters will be allowed a maximum of 30 minutes, 20 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for questions and answers. If you are planning to distribute information, please bring 15 copies and a pin drive for PowerPoint presentations.  Any information you plan to distribute during this meeting must not contain any information regarding pricing considerations.  Also, please be advised that only home office representatives may present and address the Board at this workshop.  Field service representatives may attend the workshop but will not be allowed to address or make open comments to the Board of Trustees during presentations. Should you have any questions, please feel free to call me at my office. We look forward to your presentation on Wednesday.

Insurance companies and TPA’s rely on field representatives to represent their company in the public domain, not HOSOBS. Service and sales representatives are highly trained. These skilled managers are tasked with ensuring a company’s continued retention of business as well as gain and attract new business. Without them HOSOBS are immaterial.