1.    The board shall receive bids for the providing of hospital benefits coverage, medical benefits coverage, life insurance benefits coverage for a specified term, and employee assistance program services; may receive bids separately for all or part of the prescription drug benefits coverage component of medical benefits coverage; and shall accept one or more bids of and contract with the carriers the board determines best serve the interests of the state and the state’s eligible employees. Solicitations must be made not later than ninety days before the expiration of an existing uniform group insurance contract. Bids must be solicited by advertisement in a manner selected by the board which will provide reasonable notice to prospective bidders. In preparing bid proposals and evaluating bids, the board may utilize the services of    consultants on a contract basis in order that the bids received may be uniformly compared and properly evaluated. In determining which bid, if any, will best serve the interests of eligible employees and the state, the board shall give adequate consideration to the following factors:

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 54-52.1-04

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute means the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Organization: includes a foreign or domestic association, business trust, corporation, enterprise, estate, joint venture, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership, partnership, trust, or any legal or commercial entity. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49

a.    The economy to be effected. b.    The ease of administration.

c.    The adequacy of the coverages.

d.    The financial position of the carrier, with special emphasis on the solvency of the carrier.

e.    The reputation of the carrier and any other information available tending to show past experience with the carrier in matters of claim settlement, underwriting, and services.

2.    The board may reject any or all bids received under this section. If the board rejects all bids received, the board shall again solicit bids as provided in this section.

3.    Under sections 54-52.1-04.1 and 54-52.1-04.2 the board may contract for health benefits coverage through a health maintenance organization or establish a self-insurance health plan.