Health Insurance Services for Locally Employed Staff at U.S. Mission Portugal
STATE, DEPARTMENT OF.STATE, DEPARTMENT OF.ACQUISITIONS - RPSO FRANKFURT · Response deadline: Fri, 06 Nov 2026
What the government is buying
The Department of State's Regional Procurement Support Office (RPSO) Frankfurt is seeking health insurance services for locally employed staff at U.S. Mission Portugal. This is a standard requirement for U.S. diplomatic missions overseas, which typically hire host-country nationals as part of their workforce and must provide benefits comparable to local labor market standards.
NAICS 524210 designates Insurance Agencies and Brokerages. In the context of federal contracting, this code covers businesses that sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance policies. For an overseas assignment like this, the work likely involves designing, placing, and administering a group health insurance program that complies with both U.S. government requirements and Portuguese regulatory frameworks. This may include medical coverage, dental, vision, and potentially life or disability benefits for eligible locally employed staff and their dependents.
Services of this type typically require ongoing policy management, claims advocacy, enrollment support, and annual renewals. The contractor would interface with embassy human resources staff and potentially directly with insured employees.
Key facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Department of State, RPSO Frankfurt |
| Notice type | Combined Synopsis/Solicitation |
| Solicitation number | 19GE5026Q0035 |
| NAICS | 524210 — Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
| Set-aside | None (full and open competition) |
| Response deadline | November 6, 2026 at 3:00 PM CET (UTC+1) |
| Place of performance | Not specified in metadata — see the solicitation |
The unusually short response window (eight calendar days from posting) is typical for overseas acquisitions where requirements are streamlined or follow pre-existing framework arrangements.
Who can bid
This procurement is full and open competition with no set-aside, meaning businesses of any size may compete. Small businesses are not restricted from bidding but do not receive preferential consideration.
To be competitive, a bidder should:
- Be registered in SAM.gov with active registration valid through contract performance period
- Possess NAICS 524210 in SAM registration or demonstrate capability in insurance brokerage services
- Hold or be able to obtain necessary licensing to operate insurance services in Portugal or the European Union (see the solicitation for specific licensing requirements)
- Demonstrate experience with group health insurance programs, ideally in international or diplomatic contexts
- Have capability to administer policies in Portugal and provide local-language support
How to put together a competitive bid
Understand the local market deeply: U.S. missions require compliant, competitive benefits that attract qualified local staff. Research Portugal's mandatory health coverage requirements, supplemental insurance norms, and premium benchmarks for comparable employer groups.
Demonstrate regulatory navigation: Portuguese insurance regulation falls under Autoridade de Supervisão de Seguros e Fundos de Pensões (ASF) and EU frameworks. Your proposal should show how you ensure compliance without burdening the government.
Emphasize claims and service infrastructure: Locally employed staff need responsive, Portuguese-language support. Detail your local presence, helpline capabilities, claims escalation procedures, and relationship with Portuguese insurers or international underwriters licensed in-country.
Address transition risk: If replacing an incumbent, propose a seamless handoff minimizing coverage gaps or enrollment disruption. Mention your experience with similar transitions.
Price strategically: Government evaluators balance cost against technical merit. See the solicitation for evaluation factors—typically past performance, technical approach, and price are weighted. Avoid lowballing if it compromises service quality; missions prioritize reliability over bargain pricing for employee benefits.
Verify SAM readiness: Confirm your SAM registration is active and shows correct NAICS codes. International bidders may need additional representations—see the solicitation.
Next steps
Read the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number 19GE5026Q0035 to obtain the statement of work, evaluation criteria, and submission instructions.
Note the deadline: Responses are due November 6, 2026 at 3:00 PM Central European Time—this tight turnaround requires immediate action if preparing a competitive submission.
Register or verify SAM.gov status before attempting to bid; without active registration, your offer cannot be considered.
View the official notice on SAM.gov →