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REQUEST FOR INTEREST PROVISION OF AMBULANCE SERVICES GEORGE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI
OVERVIEW
This Request for Interest (“RFI”), issued by the George County Board of Supervisors, is intended to solicit interest from experienced providers (the “Providers”) for the provision of county-wide ground ambulance services at the EMT-Paramedic levels (Advanced Life Support). The Board of Supervisors is now soliciting proposals indicating interest from privately run ambulance services for a term through Dec. 31, 2027.
The Board of Supervisors of George County, Mississippi, will receive sealed proposals to the Chancery Clerk Office at 355 Cox Street, Lucedale, MS 39452 until 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 13, 2025.
The entire 11 pages RFI is on file at the George County Administrative Office at 329 Ratliff Street, Lucedale, MS 39452, during regular business hours. The official request for proposals (RFI) and bid documents can be downloaded from Central Bidding-Mississippi Public Notices at www.centralbidding.com.
Inasmuch as the County is not in a position to bind any proposal until it has completed its evaluation of all of the available options, each Provider should consider its proposal of interest to be non-binding. Each Provider is advised, however, that the County is seeking proposals of interest that it may consider, with a high degree of certainty.
The information being sought pursuant to this RFI is intended to assist the County in conducting its analysis and consideration of the options available.
The County expressly reserves the right to request amendments to proposals, to reject any and all proposals received, to amend this RFI, and/or to terminate this RFI. The County further reserves the right to negotiate with any Provider after proposals are received and considered.
Prior to the submission deadline, Providers may request any additional information from the County through the EMA Director that Provider deems necessary to prepare its proposal.
COUNTY BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Director of the George County Office of Emergency Services acts, at the direction of the George County Board of Supervisors, as the liaison for the ambulance contract.
The current ambulance service provider maintains a minimum of two (2) available and equipped ambulances and staffed 24/7 with at least one paramedic per truck and one reserve truck used to replace trucks out on maintenance. It staffs the appropriate number of ambulances to stay in compliance with Response Time Criteria as stated in Section D.
See full background information on Central Bidding at www.centralbidding.com
ACCEPTABLE PROPOSALS
Providers must address each of the following items in as much detail as may be necessary to adequately describe the services proposed. It should be understood that this RFI is for a term through Dec. 31, 2027 to begin on an as mutually agreed upon date by George County and the selected ambulance service provider if the current contract that George County has is terminated or canceled.
SELECTION PROCESS
The selection of proposers for contract will be made using the following process or similar:
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1. In order to be initially selected the proposers must meet the Minimum General Terms and Conditions as included in the RFI, in the sole discretion of the Board of Supervisors.
2. Submittals should be reviewed by the George County Board of Supervisors. This ranking will be based on the following unweighted criteria:
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Board of Supervisors confidence in Provider to fulfil obligation
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Experience
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Financial Stability
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Subsidy
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Qualifications/Technical
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References
3. The George County Board of Supervisors may additionally require oral presentations from Provider (For all details on possible presentations, see www.centralbidding).
4. In addition to all other rights under Mississippi law, the County specifically reserves unto itself these rights and Provider agrees to such by submitting a proposal or response to the RFI:
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The right to score and rank proposals and negotiate with the entity submitting the highest scoring, highest ranking proposal or, with cause to negotiate with any other entity submitting a proposal.
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The right to negotiate with one Provider with no obligation to other Providers.
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The right to select the proposal the Board of Supervisors believes will best serve the County.
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The right to reject any or all Proposals.
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The County reserves the right to cancel the entire Request for Proposal.
Further, the County stipulates all costs of preparing and submitting proposals are borne solely by Providers (For all details on the Selection Process, see www.centralbidding).
A. PROVIDER BUSINESS/BACKGROUND INFO
1. A company profile which must include the firm name and corporate home business address, including telephone number.
2. Year established (include former firm names and year established, if applicable).
3. Type of ownership and parent company, if any.
4. Identification of governmental and/or institutional clients for whom similar services have been provided including name of client, client contact person, description of services performed and amount of the contract.
5. Whether Provider or any employee thereof anticipated being assigned to provide Ambulance services has been a defendant or plaintiff in any proceeding involving or arising out of such services within the past seven years.
See full of list 1-20 for Provider Information at www.centralbidding.com
B. INSURANCE
Provider will provide documentation from the Provider’s insurance carrier that the insurance required hereunder is available to the Provider and that such coverage is or will be provided prior to the onset of the contract:
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Liability insurance for damages arising out of bodily injury to or death of one or more persons in any one accident of $1,000,000;
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Liability insurance for any injury to or destruction to property in any one accident of $1,000,000;
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Umbrella liability insurance for any combination of damages at a minimum of $5,000,000;
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Worker’s Compensation Insurance required by law (See full list of insurance requirements at www.centralbidding.com).
C. BUSINESS PLAN
Provider will submit a business plan for the term of the contract that provides substantial evidence of the Provider’s capacity to insure the provision of adequate service to George County. This business plan should be based on the following assumptions:
1. Provider agrees to maintain a minimum of two (2) available fully equipped ambulances and capable of being manned within George County. Two (2) of the two (2) ambulances shall be advanced trained paramedic ambulances equipped with ventilators, IV pumps, power source independent of the engine to maintain power, and staffed with advanced trained personnel.
2. In addition, Provider agrees that should circumstances occur where the two (2) staffed and available ambulances are insufficient to fulfill the need for services, that it will dispatch available air med services or a like provider as well as dispatch any additional available ambulances as is necessary to prevent interruption of service.
3. Attach proposed budget for the first year of operations of the Provider’s service. The purpose of this budget should be to provide a realistic view of the financial operations of the service and a justification for any requested subsidy.
4. Company must extend the prevailing Mississippi Medicare rates to all medical facilities within George County for emergency and nonemergency transports through a fully executed written contractual agreement. The prevailing Mississippi Medicare rates will be honored by the ambulance provider throughout the duration of the agreement for County owned operations. These may include but not limited to: Local Hospital and their campus facilities, nursing homes, rehab units.
5. Special Events- Provider should also address the following special circumstances:
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County/City-authorized transports (e.g., jail inmate/persons in custody to hospital ER);
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Indigent transports;
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Ambulance coverage at local high school football games; and
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Ambulance coverage for County/City-sponsored non-profit events when requested.
6. Deployment Plan- Provide an overall deployment plan describing how Provider will deliver the requested service. This plan should include at a minimum:
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The mechanism through which Provider’s ambulances will be dispatched;
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The number and location (physical address or posting places) of all ambulances scheduled to be placed in service, including not less than four ALS ambulances staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days a week;
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A description of the make, model, and year of the ambulances to be used;
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A listing of on-board equipment and supplies for each unit;
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An outline of the contingency plan or mutual aid plan for catastrophic situations and situations in which contracted ambulances are out of the County; and
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An outline of the mechanism for handling personnel shortages (e.g., illnesses or resignations).
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Maintenance plan for its vehicles.
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Operational Sites- Describe the location and description of the place or places from which the Provider intends to operate within George County, i.e. central facility and/or post. The Provider must provide a minimum of one (1) station (physical buildings) at the Provider’s expense throughout the duration of the contract within the County to be used as ambulance post.
D. RESPONSE TIME STANDARDS (ALL AREAS)
1. Provider shall produce a maximum response time of eight (8) minutes on not less than 80% of all responses originating within a five (5) mile radius of the central location point within the city and a maximum response time of twelve (12) minutes on not less than 80% of all responses within a five (5) mile radius of the central point within the unincorporated areas of George County.
2. Provider shall produce a maximum response time of fifteen (15) minutes on not less than 80% of all responses originating within a ten (10) mile radius of a central location point.
3. Provider shall produce a maximum response time of twenty (20) minutes on not less than 80% of all responses originating outside a ten (10) mile radius of a central location point (See www.centralbidding for alternate metrics options).
E. LICENSING
1. Provider must provide evidence of licensure by the Mississippi State Department of Health at the EMT-Paramedic level. All ambulances to be deployed in George County must constantly meet the criteria set forth by the Mississippi State Department of Health for ambulances vehicles and must carry all of the onboard equipment, medications, and supplies required by the Mississippi State Department of Health.
F. MEDICAL DIRECTION (CONTROL)
1. Provider must describe the system of medical control. Provider should list both off-line and on-line physicians.
G. REPORTS (MONTHLY, ANNUAL, AND TARGETED)
1. Provider must provide George County reports on activities of its service each month, as well as annually. Monthly and annual reports must include, at a minimum, the following: Response times, Types of responses, Exceptions to the minimum requirements, Detail of dispatches, transports and location transported (See full reporting list at www.centralbidding.com)
H. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE
1. Provider shall provide and maintain, at its expense during the term of this contract, in accordance with workers’ compensation laws of the State of Mississippi, including occupational disease provisions, for all of the Provider’s employees, and in case any work is sublet, Provider shall require any such subcontractor similarly to provide Workers’ Compensation Insurance, including occupational disease provisions, for all of the subcontractor’s employees unless such employees are covered by the protection afforded by the Provider (See full Workers’ Comp requirements at www.centralbidding.com)
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Proposals must be submitted with one (1) original and five (5) copies by 10 a.m. on Friday, June 13, 2025. All printed and sealed RFP proposals should be mailed or delivered to the Chancery Clerk Office at 355 Cox Street, Lucedale, MS 39452. All bid envelopes should contain the bidder’s name
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and mailing address on the outside of the envelope and reference to this RFI.
Proposals will be evaluated by the George County Board of Supervisors; they maintain sole authority to contract with providers and will have final approval in the selection process.
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All submittals must be on paper or through Central Bidding. No CD’s, DVD’s, e-mails or other electronics allowed, unless requested.
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The term of contract shall be through Dec. 31, 2027 with the option of either party to terminate the contract with 180 days written notice for any reason.
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Provider must be a corporation registered with the State of Mississippi.
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Contractor shall at Contractor’s expense, procure all permits and licenses, pay all charges and fees, and give all notices necessary and incidental to the due and lawful prosecution of the work specific under this proposal;
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Provider must possess all needed Local, State and Federal licensing requirements.