The City has the exclusive right to grant and regulate emergency ambulance agreements within Garden Grove’s jurisdictional boundaries, and has done so for many years.  This gives the City the ability to control and maintain high quality emergency ambulance service, which works closely in an operational partnership with the City’s Fire Department.

On January 6, 2017, Request for Proposals No. S-1206 (RFP) for Ambulance Transportation and Billing Services was published and sent to all the ambulance providers registered with the County of Orange.  Two ambulance providers, CARE Ambulance Services, Inc. and AmeriCare Ambulance Service, were responsive to the RFP and submitted proposals by the February 9, 2017 deadline.

A panel consisting of five people, four internal city staff and one external staff member from a neighboring city, rated the proposals on experience, operational systems, patient billing systems, vehicle maintenance and records, personnel training and records, and patient care/transport system design on a maximum of 550 points.  Additionally, the Finance Department reviewed the financial analysis component on a scale of “Not Acceptable to Outstanding.” Based on the evaluation results, CARE Ambulance Services, Inc., rated the highest. 

The following is a summary of the rating:

There is no negative financial impact to the general fund.  The financial synergy component with the ambulance provider to bill for all pre-hospital services rendered on behalf of the City of Garden Grove results in revenue to the City to offset fire department costs.  Last Fiscal Year 2015/16, the City received $681,183 in revenue through this system.

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Award a contract to CARE Ambulance Services, Inc. to provide ambulance transportation and billing services to the City of Garden Grove for five years, with the option to extend the contract for another five year period;

• Authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement on behalf of the City and to make minor modifications as appropriate; and

• Authorize the City Manager to enter into the five year extension period shall the City decide to exercise the extension option.

By:  Lucia Medina-Whittaker, Fiscal Analyst