Approve and authorize the Chair to enter into an agreement with American Medical Response West for the provision of emergency ambulance services, Advanced Life Support and Critical Care Transports in the Exclusive Operating Area of Yolo County for the period of April 1, 2024 through April 1, 2029. (No general fund impact) (Sullivan) (Est. Time: 5 min)

Approve and authorize the Chair to enter into an agreement with American Medical Response West for emergency ambulance services, Advanced Life Support and Critical Care Transports in the Exclusive Operating Area of Yolo County for the period of April 1, 2024 through April 1, 2029.

Pursuant to Division 2.5 of the California Health & Safety Code (“Health & Safety Code”), the County has designated the Yolo County Health Department (now a part of the Health and Human Services Agency) to be the Local Emergency Medical Services Agency (“LEMSA”) for the purpose of the administration of emergency medical services (“EMS”) within the County. Division 2.5 of the Health and Safety Code confers specific authorities and responsibilities upon a LEMSA, including but not limited to developing a local plan through which it may establish one or more exclusive operating areas (“EOAs”) and, through a competitive process approved by the State Emergency Medical Services Authority (“State EMS Authority”), contracting with one or more ambulance providers for the provision of ambulance services in the designated EOA or EOAs pursuant to the local plan.

Yolo County EMS Agency (“YEMSA”) has developed a local plan, approved by the State EMS Authority, for the establishment of a single EOA covering the entire County, and the selection of a single ambulance provider to provide specified ambulance services, including Emergency Ambulance Services with basic life support (BLS), advanced life support (ALS), and critical care transport (CCT) for all areas within the EOA.

Following a comprehensive EMS system assessment that included a series of 8 partner workgroups and listening sessions including fire and dispatch agencies, hospitals, and local EMS providers, and the input of an Advisory Review Panel that included representatives from local Cities, Yolo County Fire Chiefs Association, Yolo County Auto Aid Chiefs Association, and both hospitals in Yolo County, YEMSA proceeded with a competitive bidding process for services as detailed in the Competitive Bid Process section below. Following the Competitive Bid Process and notice of intent to award issued to American Medical Response (AMR) West, YEMSA began developing a contract for the exclusive right to emergency ambulance services, Advanced Life Support (ALS), and Critical Care Transports with the input of a Contract Development Advisory Panel of partner representatives from the Yolo County Fire Chiefs Association, local Cities, and both local hospitals.

County Health and Human Services Agency and YEMSA staff, in coordination with County Counsel and the County Administrator’s Office, engaged AMR West in negotiations on the contract beginning December 6, 2023.

The Director of the Health and Human Services Agency and YEMSA are recommending to the Board of Supervisors to approve the award of the contract and enter into an agreement (Att. A. Agreement) with AMR West for the delivery of emergency ambulance services, Advanced Life Support, and Critical Care Transport in the exclusive operating area of Yolo County for a five (5)-year period, with a possible five (5)-year extension.

Performance Measures included in this Agreement are as follows:
The agreement includes extensive performance measures including, but not limited to:

Local Cities, Yolo County Fire Chiefs Association, Yolo County Auto Aid Chiefs, Yolo Emergency Communications Agency (YECA), City of Davis Dispatch Agency, Woodland Memorial Hospital, Sutter Davis Hospital, County Administrator’s Office, General Services Department, Procurement Division (GSD), County Counsel.

On April 12, 2023, the County via the General Services Department, Procurement Division (GSD) issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) on behalf of the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) for 911 Emergency Advanced Life Support (ALS) Ambulance Transport, Emergency Basic Life Support Ambulance Transport, ALS Interfacility Ambulance Transport, and Critical Care Transport Services. The solicitation was open for 86 days. On May 10, 2023, the County held a proposers’ conference.  On August 1, 2023, Proposers were provided an opportunity to give an oral presentation to the County.

The County received 1 proposal from this solicitation.  GSD reviewed the proposal for minimum requirements, and it was moved forward to the Review Committee. The Review Committee was a multi-disciplinary panel including leadership from Fire Departments, Cities, Rural Jurisdictions, Hospitals, and County and EMS leadership.

Representatives were drawn from the following entities:

The Review Committee evaluated the proposals and determined that the proposal submitted by AMR West met all the required qualifications necessary to successfully provide these services.  On August 9, 2023, the County issued an Intent to Award letter.

Evaluation Criteria Included in RFP

Bids Received

No general funds are required by this action. This agreement will generate revenue to cover costs for YEMSA for the administration, oversight, and development and investment into emergency medical services in the county.  The total amount of this action is up to $3,500,000 in revenue for the period of April 1, 2024 through April 1, 2029. The amount of $700,000 is included in the HHSA adopted budget for 2023-24.