The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has a requirement for a contractor to administer and insure its supplemental dental insurance plan. The plan covers approximately 500 employees located in Washington, DC, New York, NY, Chicago, IL, Kansas City, MO, and Minneapolis, MN. CFTC employees are eligible to participate in all federal benefit programs including retirement, health, and life insurance plans. The dental plan is in addition to these federal benefits. The resulting contract will have a period of performance of one year, and up to four option periods of one year each, with coverage beginning in January, 2006. The RFP release date will be on or about April 19, 2005, and will be provided electronically through FedBizOpps’ (FBO) web page as discussed below. No paper solicitation will be issued. Interested parties may obtain a copy of the solicitation by accessing the following web page: http://www.eps.gov. CFTC posts all required notices of its contracting opportunities on the FBO site. Potential offerors who download copies of solicitations may register at FBO to automatically receive e-mailed notification concerning issued amendments to the applicable solicitation. Registration is optional. You may still view plans/specifications and amendments without registering. If you register for the solicitation, you will receive a courtesy e-mail from FBO notifying you of all amendments for the solicitation that will be posted to the website. Registration for the solicitation, however, does not release bidders/offerors from the responsibility of checking the solicitation daily for amendments. Potential offerors that do not have the capability to download from FBO may request, in writing, diskettes containing electronic copies of the solicitation, including attachments, and any amendments. Potential offerors making this request must include in their written request an adequate justification for not obtaining the solicitation via the Internet. Telephone requests for diskettes will be honored, provided a written justification is also furnished. Requests should be sent to the Contracting Officer by email to
[email protected] or by fax to (202)418-5414. Faxed requests must be preceded by verbal notification to the Contracting Officer. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to ensure it receives the diskettes. The Government will not be liable for non-receipt of diskettes due to communication errors. It is anticipated that proposals will be due 30 days after the release date of the RFP. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which will be considered. To be considered a responsible source eligible for award of the anticipated contract, an offeror must currently maintain at least one of the following minimum insurer financial ratings: A.M. Best: A–; Standard & Poor’s or Fitch: BBB; or Moody’s: Baa2. If an offeror is rated by more than one of these rating organizations, each rating shall at least meet the above minimums.