Agenda Item
i. Amendment to the Spend Limit of RFP 23-544 for Ambulance Services to the DeKalb County School District by Metro Ambulance Services, Inc. dba American Medical Response (Not to exceed $550,000)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Triscilla Weaver, Chief of Access & Opportunity, Division of Access & Opportunity
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve an amendment to the spend limit of RFP 23-544 Ambulance Services for the DeKalb County School District by Metro Ambulance Services, Inc. dba American Medical Response, Inc.) in an amount not to exceed $550,000 per renewal period. With this approval, the total spend limit for the RFP will be increased by $300,000.
Why: The DeKalb County School District (DCSD) continues its partnership with Metro Ambulance Services, Inc., doing business as American Medical Response, Inc., to provide essential basic life support (BLS) ambulance services at athletic and district events. The presence of ambulance services is crucial for ensuring the safety of participants, responding to emergencies promptly, and maintaining a secure environment for all attendees.
This year, the district has expanded its athletic offerings, introducing more flag football teams and elementary-level athletics. The amendment to the spending limit will help accommodate these additional sports programs and ensure adequate ambulance coverage at other significant district events, such as the Marching Band Showcase, School Expo, and Back-to-School Rally.
The requested amendment aligns with Strategic Goal Areas 1: Student Academic Success with Equity and Access, and Strategic Goal 2: School, Family, and Community Engagement.
Details: Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) play a vital role in responding to sports emergencies by providing immediate medical care to athletes who are injured or experience medical issues during events. EMTs are trained to quickly assess and stabilize individuals in critical conditions, ensuring rapid intervention to reduce the severity of injuries and improve recovery outcomes. In sports, timely medical attention is crucial due to the nature of many injuries, and EMTs can significantly affect the result by preventing complications and accelerating the recovery process.
American Medical Response, Inc. has provided services for DCSD Athletics for the past seven years and was the only company capable of handling the high volume of events required.
American Medical Response, Inc. will be required to have an ambulance present for the entire duration of each event. The ambulance dispatched to DCSD athletic events will be a basic life support (BLS) unit, fully equipped with the necessary equipment as mandated by the Georgia Department of Public Health Rules and Regulations (511-9-2).
Financial impact: The total budget for these services is allocated from the cost code (100.2500.530200.00011.7090.9990.8010.092.0000) under the Athletics’ General Fund Budget in the amount not to exceed $550,000 this fiscal year.
Contact: Dr. Triscilla Weaver, Chief of Access & Opportunity, Division of Access & Opportunity, 678-676-0485
Mrs. Myss Johnson-Jelks, Executive Director of Athletics, Division of Access & Opportunity, 678.676.1824
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
The chronology of the agenda item regarding the contract with
American Medical Response (AMR) for ambulance services at DeKalb
County School District (DCSD) athletic events can be summarized as
follows:
October 18, 2021:
o The Board of Education (BOE) approved a revision to Board
Policy DJE requiring Board approval for Independent
Contract Agreements (ICAs) with a total cost of $50,000 or
more.
October 27, 2022:
o RFP 23-544 for Basic Life Support (BLS) Ambulance
Services was issued.
o The RFP was advertised to 19 vendors from the DCSD
vendor list, 252 vendors via the State of Georgia
Procurement Registry, and 159 vendors through IonWave
(DCSD Purchasing solicitation website).
o The solicitation was also advertised in the Champion
newspaper for two weeks (October 27 and November 3,
2022).
November 8, 2022:
o A virtual pre-proposal conference was held, attended by
representatives from three entities.
November 29, 2022:
o The only proposal received was from American Medical
Response (AMR). The proposal was evaluated and deemed
responsive by a committee from the DCSD Athletics
Department.
April 17, 2023:
o The BOE approved the award of RFP 23-544 to Metro
Ambulance Services, Inc. dba American Medical Response
with a contract value not to exceed $1,250,000 ($250,000
annually) for ambulance services at DCSD athletic events.
January 13, 2024:
o The BOE will be asked to approve the renewal of the
contract, with two remaining one-year renewal options for
the RFP 23-544 Ambulance Services agreement with AMR.
This agenda item seeks Board approval for the authorization of the
third renewal and the continuation of services under the contract for
the 2024-2025 school year.