Three companies including Augusta’s current provider Gold Cross have submitted proposals to run the city’s EMS calls.
In a whirlwind one-week procurement, Augusta’s procurement department opened proposals Monday from three providers: American Medical Response, Ameripro EMS and Gold Cross.
The process is underway in an effort for Augusta to have a provider under contract as the city seeks ownership of the Augusta EMS “zone.” Gold Cross, the provider since 2005, has held the state designation since 2014, and with it, automatic access to all Augusta 911 medical calls.
After contract negotiations failed, Gold Cross made good on a promise to leave Augusta-Richmond County if its demands were not met. The resignation allows Augusta a chance to own the zone, a goal Mayor Garnett Johnson said he campaigned on accomplishing.
Since Augusta Fire Department has so few ambulances, having a provider under contract – by a Friday state deadline – to increase its chances of winning back the zone.
Vying to be that provider is American Medical Response or AMR, headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colo. The company, which does business as Metro Ambulance Services Inc., has previously bid for work in Augusta. It has serviced multiple Georgia jurisdictions including Dekalb County, where Augusta Fire Chief Antonio Burden was a deputy chief.
Also submitting a bid was Ameripro EMS, a newer company headquartered in Atlanta that serves Georgia and Florida. It got in the Jacksonville, Fla., market by purchasing a longtime local ambulance company there.
Gold Cross, which also services Columbia and Jefferson counties, has struggled to remain profitable under pandemic conditions and sought a nearly $2 million annual subsidy and almost $2 million inducement to enter a contract to continue to work here. The company agreed to enter a month-to-month contract to continue operations until the next provider is identified.
Procurement documents show each of the EMS companies submitted fee proposals but their amounts are not known. “Negotiations” by the selection committee with the top two vendors are set to begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday, according to a procurement document. Johnson has called a meeting Thursday at which the commission could approve one.
According to the city’s request for proposals, the new provider must keep 10 ambulances available during peak times. Calls will be dispatched directly by Augusta 911. The RFP includes a sample contract but the amount of any subsidy is not included.
