Columbus County Schools Voluntary Employee Benefits Brokerage and Consulting Services RFP

Columbus County Board of Education is soliciting proposals for solicitation number 171-171-26-203 to secure professional services for Section 125 Flexible Benefit Plan Administration and Voluntary Employee Benefit Brokerage and Consulting. The selected vendor will be responsible for the full administration of Flexible Spending Accounts and voluntary benefits, including IRS compliance monitoring, nondiscrimination testing, payroll deduction administration, and the provision of supplemental benefits such as dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. The contract is scheduled to begin for the plan year starting July 1, 2027. Proposals must be submitted to Connie Cox at Columbus County Schools Central Services in Whiteville, North Carolina, by 4:00 p.m. EST on September 1, 2026. Submissions require three printed sealed copies and may be supplemented by email. Qualified firms must be licensed in North Carolina and demonstrate experience managing benefit plans for employers with at least 500 employees. Award selection is based on best value rather than cost alone, with evaluation factors including qualifications, benefit design, technology capabilities, cost effectiveness, and performance history. Vendors must certify that the school system will not incur any consulting fees and must provide full transparency regarding their compensation arrangements.