ACCORDING to TakeCare Insurance, the Department of Administration has sent notification that the procurement process for GovGuam health insurance has been cancelled and will be redone.
TakeCare, in a protest filed earlier, had requested that DOA cancel the current request for proposals and reissue another RFP for the health insurance contract for GovGuam employees.
In a news release, TakeCare stated that last Friday, DOA agreed with TakeCare that its protest had merit and conceded that errors were made in the procurement process.
“Consequently, DOA will cancel the current RFP for the health insurance contract for GovGuam employees. TakeCare wishes to thank the members of the GovGuam negotiating team for doing the right thing and canceling the solicitation,” said Jeffrey Larsen, TakeCare chief operating officer.
“Moreover, we look forward to participating in the procurement process along with other health insurance companies in a fair manner, and providing health coverage to GovGuam employees. GovGuam employees deserve options and a choice in their health care,” he added.
Larsen said the only way to provide those options is for GovGuam employees to be allowed to select among various health insurance companies to provide them care.
“At this point, TakeCare hopes that DOA will not delay and will promptly issue another RFP for the insurance contract for GovGuam employees.”
The insurance company had originally submitted its protest in the first week of August.
In addition to TakeCare’s protest, Calvo’s SelectCare also filed a protest against DOA, on the grounds that DOA had “illegally” allowed TakeCare to modify its proposal. SelectCare suggested that these revised proposals be rejected and that DOA should negotiate the contract with the remaining providers.
A third insurance company, StayWell, added its concerns to the ongoing protests, claiming DOA was wrong to show TakeCare the evaluation memorandum, which lists the ranks of the bidders.
