Sonoma County Department of Health Services recommends awarding ambulance contract to Sonoma County Fire District

The Sonoma County Department of Health Services today announced it is recommending that the Board of Supervisors award a contract to the Sonoma County Fire District for advanced life support ground ambulance services for Exclusive Operating Area No. 1, which includes Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park and much of central Sonoma County.

To assess the proposals, Sonoma County convened an independent Proposal Review Committee made up of five members, all from outside of the County, including individuals with various experiences related to emergency medical services, health systems, and public contracting. Committee members evaluated and scored the proposals based on the criteria set forth in the County’s Request for Proposal that was issued on Nov. 2. 

On April 20, 2023, the two proposers gave oral presentations about their proposals and answered questions. Following the presentations, the committee presented its scores to Tina Rivera, director of the Department of Health Services. The identities of the members of the Proposal Review Committee were confidential, even to the proposers, throughout the RFP process, including during oral presentations. 

On April 24, 2023, the Department of Health Services announced that SCFD was the highest scoring proposal. The announcement is available here: https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/notice-of-intent-to-award-rfp-for-emergency-advanced-life-support-ground-ambulance-services-for-an-exclusive-operating-area-in-sonoma-county

Based on the criteria set forth in the county’s request for proposals, the Sonoma County Fire District proposal scored higher than one submitted by American Medical Response West, which currently operates ambulance service in the county.

The fire district’s proposal received a higher score because its proposed base rate of $3,100 was lower than AMR’s proposed base rate of $3,900. AMR’s proposal also was missing audited financial reports.

AMR submitted a bid protest on April 28, 2023, challenging the County’s Notice of Intent to Award, in accordance with the County’s Protest and Appeals policy. The County thoroughly reviewed AMR’s bid protest and has denied it. The County has determined that AMR did not demonstrate any violations of the competitive process. In particular, the County found no evidence that any members of the Proposal Review Committee had a conflict of interest that would prevent them from serving as an unbiased member of the committee.

The county also received a second protest, filed by the union representing AMR employees. It was dismissed for lack of standing.

The Board of Supervisors at a future meeting will receive the Department of Health Services recommendation that it enters into a contract with the Sonoma County Fire District to provide ambulance services starting on Jan. 16, 2024.

The County looks forward to working with the Sonoma County Fire District and appreciates AMR’s service in the County. AMR has assured the County that, despite disputing the existence of its contract with the County, AMR intends to continue to provide such services in EOA-1 until Jan. 15, 2024, as originally planned. The County is committed to a safe and collaborative transition and looks forward to working with AMR and SCFD to implement it.

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Media Contact: 
Paul Gullixson, Communications Manager 
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-3040
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403