Press Release

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Friday, February 27, 2015

The competitive bidding process opened this week for a new contract to provide emergency ambulance service throughout much of Contra Costa County, a step toward identifying the county’s main provider beginning in 2016.

Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) seeks a 5-year contract with a qualified ambulance provider to serve all parts of the county, excluding areas served by the San Ramon Valley and Moraga-Orinda fire districts, with a 5-year renewal option based on performance.

American Medical Response has provided the service for several decades in Contra Costa. The current contract expires at the end of 2015.

The new request for proposals (RFP) requires bidders to respond to two different service models: One similar to the county's current model, and another with extensive strategies to optimize services while matching emergency ambulance service levels to patient need.

The strategies are based on recommendations in the EMS Modernization Project Report, a review of county emergency medical service delivery ordered by the Board of Supervisors in 2012. They are intended to reduce the chance that the county will need to subsidize the ambulance provider.

To read the report, visit cchealth.org/ems/pdf/2014-EMS-System-Modernization-Study.pdf.

Bidders must also demonstrate their qualifications, fiscal sustainability and ability to meet rigorous patient care, safety and quality criteria developed by the CCHS Emergency Medical Services Division (EMS) and its consultant, Fitch & Associates, including response-time, staffing and equipment requirements, engagement with the healthcare system and ability to support fire-first medical response.

The Board will select its preferred service model when it selects a bidder.

EMS formally issued the RFP on Feb. 27, 2015. Bids are due May 21, 2015 at 4 p.m.

For a timeline of the RFP process and links to electronic documents, including the RFP, visit http://cchealth.org/ems/rfp.php.

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