The Office of Personnel Management expects to announce in the weeks ahead the outlines of the vision and dental benefits package for federal employees and retirees that was authorized last year as a supplement to the limited offerings available in those areas through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program. OPM director Linda Springer in a letter to members of Congress tracking the issue said the agency has been in contact with dental and vision benefit providers and that its contract solicitation will feature competition and choice and will be “broad enough to accommodate a wide variety of product types, including national and regional vendors.” Employees will pay the entire cost of the benefits, which are set to be available next July.