SECTION 260:40-37-4. Bidder registration

(a)   Any Bidder which seeks to contract to provide flexible benefit plans to the EBD must be on the Bidder's list prior to the public release of an RFP solicitation. A Bidder desiring to be on the Bidder List must register with the Contracts Administrator to receive copies of RFP solicitations. Only those Bidders qualified under Oklahoma law to perform the services requested by the EBD and who meet the Bidder registration requirements contained herein will be added to the Bidder's List.

(b)   Bidder Qualifications.

(1)   A Bidder has the burden of demonstrating that it has the capability to responsibly do business with the State of Oklahoma. In the interest of providing the highest level of quality to statewide active State employees and their eligible dependents for flexible benefit choices, Bidders seeking Bidder registration with the EBD to provide flexible benefit choices in response to a benefit choice RFP solicitation must provide:

(A)   Proof that the benefit provider has been operational (licensed where applicable) and enrolling members within the State of Oklahoma for a period of not less than eighteen (18) months prior to the date proposals are due.

(B)   Audited financial statements for the most recent two (2) full years, and

(C)   Disclosure of all State and Federal regulatory actions taken against the Bidder in the preceding eighteen (18) months.

(2)   The EBD can make exception to any of the aforementioned requirements in this subparagraph at its discretion when the EBD determines doing so is in the best interest of the State and members.

(c)   Bidders wishing to be added to the Bidder List must request in writing to receive a Bidder registration packet. Written requests must be addressed to: Oklahoma State Employee Benefits Department, First National Center, 120 North Robinson Avenue, Suite 1100, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102, Attention: Contracts Administrator. Bidders shall be provided a packet with registration information and submission forms. All Bidders must renew registrations annually on a plan year basis.

(d)   The Bidder shall complete the information requested in the Bidder registration packet and return the forms to the Contracts Administrator. The Bidder registration forms must be received by the Contracts Administrator not less than seven (7) business days before the issuance of the RFP. Upon receipt, EBD shall review the Bidder registration forms for completeness and qualification and determine prior to the public release of an RFP solicitation whether or not the Bidder shall be added to the Bidder's List. The EBD shall return the Bidder registration forms in the event the forms have not been properly completed, and shall deny the registration where the form is incomplete and/or the applicant Bidder is not qualified to perform the flexible benefits plan requested in the RFP. Entities not registered as a bidder may receive copies of RFPs pursuant to the Open Records Act.

(e)   The Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance EGID is exempt from the Bidder registration requirement herein.

[Source: Added at 31 Ok Reg 1358, eff 9-12-14]