Local Ambulance Provider Riggs Challenges Merced County Contract Decision
Merced, CA – Riggs Ambulance, the current emergency medical services provider for Merced County, is contesting the county’s move to award a new contract to American Medical Response (AMR). The dispute centers on the fairness of the Request for Proposal (RFP) scoring process adn alleges critical details regarding state response time requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic was omitted.
The county is currently negotiating a contract with AMR, but Riggs officials claim losing the Merced County contract would be “almost a fatal wound” for the company. Daniel Iniguez, regional director for AMR, stated the company is “dedicated to openness and engagement” and “committed to providing EMS care of the highest quality” as they move through the contracting process.
Riggs officials specifically dispute details within the RFP scoring system. Carly Strong, SEMSA Chief Operating Officer and former Riggs EMT and paramedic, pointed to the challenges of the pandemic as a contributing factor to potential misinterpretations during the RFP evaluation.”It was during COVID…nobody had enough time to really focus on some of the issues,and the system got a little bifurcated,” Strong said.
This isn’t the frist time Riggs has fought to retain its Merced County contract. In 2012, the company successfully challenged the RFP process and ultimately kept the contract after identifying flaws in the evaluation. That previous challenge involved scrutiny over mutual aid requests to AMR in Stanislaus County, but community support helped Riggs retain the agreement.
Merced County Board Chair Josh Pedrozo acknowledged the ongoing negotiations with AMR but declined to comment extensively, citing the sensitive nature of the process.He emphasized the board’s commitment to ensuring the county receives the best possible service and is a responsible steward of taxpayer money. “We want to make sure that the constituents are getting the best service possible…Whomever that may be, we owe it to the constituents to make sure that they feel safe, that they’re able to get the care in a timely fashion.”
The outcome of the current dispute will determine who provides emergency ambulance services to Merced County residents.