Honorable Mayor and Members of the Hermosa Beach City Council
Regular Meeting of November 29, 2022
Title
APPROVAL OF FIRST AMENDMENT TO AN AGREEMENT
WITH MCCORMICK AMBULANCE FOR EMERGENCY
AMBULANCE TRANSPORT SERVICES
(Deputy City Manager Angela Crespi)
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Staff recommends City Council:
1. Approve the proposed first amendment to an agreement with Westmed Ambulance Service, Inc. dba McCormick Ambulance for emergency ambulance transport services to extend the contract term by five years to December 31, 2027 resulting in a total amended contract term of ten years and to set forth the per transport fee for each remaining contract year as $463 for Year 6, $477 for Year 7, $491 for Year 8, and $505 for Years 9 and 10 (Attachment 2); and
2. Authorize the Mayor to execute and the City Clerk to attest the attached first amendment subject to approval by the City Attorney.
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Executive Summary:
At its October 24, 2017 meeting, City Council awarded an agreement for emergency ambulance transport services to Westmed Ambulance Service, Inc. dba McCormick Ambulance (McCormick). The agreement, set to expire on December 31, 2022, includes an option to extend for a second term of five years without publishing a request for proposals (Attachment 1). Staff recommends City Council approve the proposed amendment for an additional five-year term, resulting in a total amended contract term of 10 years, and setting forth the annual rates.
Background:
At its October 18, 2016 study session, City Council was provided a fire services analysis that outlined five options for providing ambulance transport services in the City of Hermosa Beach. At its August 22, 2017 meeting, City Council directed staff to proceed with ambulance transport “option four” which would allow the City of Hermosa Beach to continue to provide ambulance services by contracting the service through the development of an Ambulance Transport Request for Proposal.
On August 28, 2017, the City issued a Request for Proposals for Emergency Ambulance Services and, at closing, received proposals from Ambulnz Health and McCormick Ambulance. Following a competitive review process, McCormick Ambulance was recommended by the evaluation panel for its technical qualifications and its competitive rates at approximately 50 percent less than the transport cost of the second proposer.
At its December 31, 2017 meeting, City Council awarded a contract for Emergency Ambulance Services to McCormick Ambulance for a period of five years in the amount of $380 per transport for Year 1, $405 per transport for Year 2, $430 per transport for Year 3, $440 per transport for Year 4 and $450 per transport for Year 5, with an option to renew for a second five-year term. Unless extended, the agreement is set to expire on December 31, 2022.
Past Council Actions
|
Meeting Date |
Description |
|
October 18, 2016 |
City Council was provided a fire services analysis that outlined five options for providing ambulance transport services in the City of Hermosa Beach. |
|
August 22, 2017 |
City Council directed staff to proceed with ambulance transport “option four” which would allow the City of Hermosa Beach to continue to provide ambulance services by contracting the service through the development of an Ambulance Transport Request for Proposal. |
|
October 24, 2017 |
City Council awarded an agreement for emergency ambulance transport services to Westmed Ambulance Service, Inc. dba McCormick Ambulance. |
Discussion:
Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) and McCormick Ambulance work together to provide emergency medical services (EMS) to the Hermosa Beach community. LACoFD does not conduct patient transport; therefore, unincorporated areas are included in the fire department transport contracts with various providers. Contract cities are responsible for negotiating and contracting with a medical transport provider for their community. Within the South Bay, many of the cities have contracted with McCormick Ambulance to conduct emergency medical transportation including the City of Hermosa Beach.
McCormick ambulances are staffed by two emergency medical technicians who can provide and transport basic life support patients independently and, with the support of LACoFD paramedics riding in the ambulance, can also transport advanced life support patients. McCormick Ambulance demonstrates a continuous effort to provide satisfactory services in all areas from detecting and correcting service level performance deficiencies by identifying the reason for delayed response times, issuing personnel performance notices when mandatory response requirements are not met, and releasing personnel upon continued performance issues. McCormick Ambulance also provides training and continuing education to staff to improve skills and service delivery.
Based on McCormick Ambulance’s satisfactory performance, staff recommends approval of the proposed first amendment to extend the contract term by five years to December 31, 2027, resulting in a total amended contract term of ten years and setting forth the per transport fee for each remaining contract year as $463 for Year 6, $477 for Year 7, $491 for Year 8, and $505 for Years 9 and 10, representing a three percent annual increase in years two, three, and four of the second five-year term.
General Plan Consistency:
This report and associated recommendation have been evaluated for their consistency with the City’s General Plan. Relevant Policies are listed below:
Governance Element
Goal 1. A high degree of transparency and integrity in the decision-making process.
Policy:
1.1 Open meetings. Maintain the community’s trust by holding meetings in which decisions are being made, that are open and available for all community members to attend, participate, or view remotely.
Safety Element
Goal 5. High quality police and fire protection services provided to residents and visitors.
Policy:
5.2 High level of response. Achieve optimal utilization of allocated public safety resources and provide desired levels of response, staffing, and protection within the community.
Fiscal Impact:
Under the extended term of the agreement, McCormick Ambulance would charge a per transport fee of $463 for Year 6, $477 for Year 7, $491 for Year 8, and $505 for Years 9 and 10. The proposed rates represent a three percent annual increase in years two, three, and four of the second five-year term. Ambulance transport fees are included in the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget.
Attachments:
1. Agreement with McCormick Ambulance
2. First Amendment to Agreement with McCormick Ambulance
3. Link to October 18, 2016 City Council Staff Report
4. Link to August 22, 2017 City Council Staff Report
5. Link to October 24, 2017 City Council Staff Report
Respectfully Submitted by: Sara Russo, Senior Management Analyst
Concur: Angela Crespi, Deputy City Manager
Noted for Fiscal Impact: Viki Copeland, Finance Director
Legal Review: Mike Jenkins, City Attorney
Approved: Suja Lowenthal, City Manager