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Chief Administrative Office, Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Preparedness and Response Division, recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Make a finding that the provision of prehospital advanced life support, transport, and dispatch services requires specialty skills and qualifications that are not expressly identified in County classifications per County Ordinance Code Chapter 3.13, Contracting Out, Section 3.13.030;
2) Approve and Authorize the Chair to execute Amendment I to Agreement 5873 with California Tahoe Emergency Services Operations Authority to revise the language in Sections 2.1.7 and 2.3 of the current Agreement, with no change to the term or total compensation; and
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute any necessary amendments relating to Agreement 5873, excluding term extensions and increases to the not-to-exceed amount, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: CSA 3 - Ambulance service fees and benefit assessment revenue.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The County is responsible for ensuring the provision of prehospital Advanced Life Support (ALS) services to the residents of the County and does so by contracting for these services through County Service Areas. The County is divided into two County Service Areas (CSAs) for the provision of ambulance services. CSA 3 includes the Lake Tahoe Basin, the City of South Lake Tahoe, Meeks Bay, and Tahoma. California Tahoe Emergency Services Operations Authority (CTESOA) has been the contracted ambulance operator in the CSA 3 South Shore operating area for 20 years.
The County’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System is authorized by County Ordinance Code Chapter 8.74 - County Emergency Medical Service and Medical Transportation Ordinance (“EMS Ordinance”), under the provisions of Title 22 of the California EMS Act and the California Health and Safety Code.
On June 22, 2021, the Board awarded RFP 21-990-036 to CTESOA and authorized the Chief Administrative Officer or designee to negotiate an agreement for services with CTESOA for Board consideration. On August 24, 2021, the Board approved and authorized the Chair to execute Agreement 5873 with CTESOA for advanced life support ambulance operations services within CSA 3 for the period beginning September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2031, with an option to exercise a five (5) year extension.
The proposed Amendment I to Agreement 5873 will amend the language of the agreement to include Critical Care Paramedics as an option to staff Critical Care Transports and amend the language to include that the Ambulance Inflation Factor is applied cumulatively, effective January 1st of each year of the agreement.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve Amendment I to Agreement.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
21-1197 - 08/24/2021: The Board approved and authorized the Chair to execute agreement 5873 with CTESOA for advanced life support ambulance operations services within CSA 3 for the period beginning September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2031, with an option to exercise a five (5) year extension.
21-0953 - 06/22/2021: The Board awarded RFP 21-990-036 to CTESOA and authorize the Chief Administrative Officer or designee to negotiate an agreement for services with CTESOA.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel and Cal EMSA reviewed the RFP and draft contract.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Amendment I does not impact the not-to-exceed amount totaling $42,287,312.19 that was originally approved on August 24, 2021 on Legistar item 21-1197.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to obtain Board Chair signature on Amendment I to Agreement 5873 and forward to CAO Fiscal, attention Kelley Lawrie.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Sue Hennike, Deputy CAO