UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO PROFILE
In 1957, the University of Waterloo opened its doors to 74 engineering students with co-operative education as its cornerstone. Today, with more than 42,000+ students attending annually, Waterloo is #1 in Canada for experiential learning and employer-student connections.
Consistently ranked Canada’s most innovative university, Waterloo is home to advanced research and teaching in science and engineering, mathematics and computer science, health, environment, arts and social sciences. From quantum computing and nanotechnology to clinical psychology and health sciences research, Waterloo brings ideas and brilliant minds together, inspiring innovations with real impact today and in the future.
As home to the world's largest post-secondary co-operative education program, Waterloo embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research, and commercialization. With campuses and education centres on four continents, and academic partnerships spanning the globe, Waterloo is shaping the future of the planet.
Find out more about the University of Waterloo at https://uwaterloo.ca/about/who-we-are/waterloo-facts.
RFP BACKGROUND
The University of Waterloo offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees and retirees. In addition to the University of Waterloo employees and retirees, the benefits program is extended to four University Colleges (St. Jerome’s, Renison, St. Paul’s, and Conrad Grebel) and one affiliate centre (The Canadian Water Network) utilizing the same eligibility criteria.
The University of Waterloo’s Pension & Benefits (‘P&B’) Committee has requested a marketing of the existing benefits contract with Canada Life to ensure that they remain competitive. There is a standing subcommittee of P&B - the Holistic Benefits Working Group (‘HBWG’) - which includes representation from each of the employee stakeholder groups (CUPE, Staff, and Faculty) as well as a representative from the University Colleges.
Human Resources is assisting the HBWG with this initiative and is responsible for evaluating proposals based on subject matter expertise and is the delegated plan administrator for benefits arrangements. In addition, AON Hewitt Inc. (‘AON’) has been retained by the University of Waterloo to assist with analysis, and with supporting the recommendation(s) for go-forward employee benefits provider(s) to the P&B Committee.
Under this RFP, the evaluation committee is comprised of individuals from the HBWG and Human Resources. Together, they are responsible for reviewing, evaluating and recommending the provider for benefits under consideration going forward.
The University of Waterloo is seeking long term, sustainable savings for employee benefits. Specifically, the University of Waterloo may wish to change the LTD plan design to reduce the cost to eligible employees.
As such, the intent of the procurement process is for the HBWG to arrive at a recommendation to the P&B Committee concerning benefit plans/service providers for the employee benefits under consideration. There is no guarantee that the recommendation will be accepted by the P&B Committee; in addition, if plan design changes are included in the recommendation, there is no guarantee that the Board of Governors will provide approval.
This RFP covers all University of Waterloo eligible active employees and retirees who are eligible for benefits. The following benefits are within the scope of this RFP:
• Long-Term Disability (‘LTD’)
• Extended Health (including emergency out of country medical assistance, through an external partner if required)
• Dental
LTD premiums are 100% employee paid; the other benefits are provided on an Administrative Services Only (ASO) basis and are 99% employer paid. Employees (and retirees prior to retirement) with a part-time employment arrangement pay a portion of healthcare costs based on their full-time equivalency (FTE) – for example, an employee with a 60% FTE will pay 40% of the budget rates established to fund the arrangements.
Please note that although listed as benefits components within the booklet, the Life Insurance, Pension administration, sick leave complex case assessment, and Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) benefits are not in scope for this RFP.
The format of the RFP is a negotiable process; this is not a Contract A/B solicitation. If appropriate, the recommendation/selection may include more than one service provider for specific benefits – it will not necessarily be one exclusive award/contract. A shortlist will be created, and those respondents will be invited to a presentation to the RFP evaluation committee and stakeholders.
Additional information about the benefit plans, the process for the RFP, and instructions for submitting a Proposal are found in Sections 6.0 and 7.0 of the RFP document.
Questions regarding this RFP may be submitted in writing (via email) to the RFP Contact Person as follows:
Christine Wagner, Procurement Specialist - Procurement and Contract Services
200 University Avenue West
University of Waterloo, East Campus 2
Waterloo ON N2L 5Z5
Email: cpwagner@uwaterloo.ca or, procure@uwaterloo.ca
Do not submit correspondence through Merx.
