Template revised April 12, 2018.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
6d
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
July 9, 2019
DATE: July 1, 2019
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Anika Klix, Total Rewards Consultant
Tammy Woodard, Director. Human Resources - Total Rewards
Katie Gerard, Sr. Director, Human Resources
SUBJECT: Contract for a vendor to provide an employee assistance program (EAP) to Port
employees.
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to execute a contract to select a
third-party vendor to provide an employee assistance program (EAP) for all Port employees.
The EAP contract will be a five-year contract with two (2) one-year options to extend (2020 -
2026) for a maximum duration of seven years and a total value not to exceed $720,000. The
contract value accounts for an increase in the number of Port employees over the life of the
contract.
SUMMARY
The purpose of the EAP is to provide employees quick and confidential access to assessment
and referral services for a variety of personal issues that may, or that have the potential to,
affect job performance. It is best practice for many companies to offer EAP services. The Port
has offered an EAP for over twenty (20) years and Port policy HR-17c specifies that the Port of
Seattle will offer an Employee Assistance Program to all Port employees, both represented and
non-represented, and their families.
Examples of services provided by an EAP include support, counseling, and referrals for topics
like alcohol or drug dependence, family support and relationship problems, emotional or
financial difficulties, elder care or dependent care resources, or other stresses that might
benefit from the intervention or assistance of qualified professionals. The EAP Provider should
be able to respond to, and demonstrate positive history of serving a diverse, multilingual and
multicultural workforce.
The EAP will also provide on-site services on a variety of topics consistent with the terms of the
contract. These services may include intervention or assistance in emergency situations, grief
Amount of this request:
Not to Exceed $720,000
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. _6d_ Page 2 of 2
Meeting Date: July 9, 2019
Template revised September 22, 2016; format updates October 19, 2016.
counseling following the death of an active employee, mediations, group facilitations, or
training on coping skills after a tragedy or catastrophic event. These on-site services will be
provided at the request of Human Resources.
With the current contract expiring at the end of 2019, we are requesting Commission approval
to commence a competitive procurement process to select and contract with an EAP vendor
before the current contract expires to ensure continuity of services to Port employees.
Alternatives to procuring this contract are:
• To no longer offer an employee assistance program, or
• Contract with independent providers for the various services that an EAP would provide
requiring multiple, smaller procurements and contracts to manage.
Procuring a seven-year contract with an EAP provider will secure continuity of services for Port
employees and will provide a means for employees to access confidential assessment and
referral services that may have a positive impact on employee job performance.
There are no attachments to this memo.
