Countywide Emergency Ambulance Services for Exclusive Operation Area (EOA)

In 1996, the County of Solano authorized the creation of the Solano Emergency Medical Services Cooperative (SEMSC), a joint powers authority (JPA) whose membership includes the County and various cities and fire protection districts within the County, for the administration of Emergency Medical services (EMS). For this Request for Proposal (RFP), references to Solano County, as a legal entity, will be noted as “County,” whereas geographical references will be indicated as “county.”

The SEMSC, as the designated Local Emergency Medical Services Agency (LEMSA) for the County, through the Solano County General Services Department, invites proposals from qualified organizations to bid on the emergency ambulance service for an exclusive operating area (EOA), as defined more fully below. SEMSC is authorized to plan and implement such an EOA, as provided for under California Health and Safety Code (H&SC), Section 1797.224. The EOA represents all incorporated and unincorporated areas of Solano County (County), except the City of Vacaville, as detailed in this Request for Proposals (RFP). The resulting contract will be awarded to one (1) provider to service the entire EOA. That provider may subcontract as warranted to deliver optimal service to residents and visitors.

The county has a population of 449,551 and is strategically located between San Francisco and Sacramento. As one of California’s original 27 counties, it is rich in history and offers many resources to the public and the business community. In addition to the unincorporated area, the county serves seven cities: Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville, and Vallejo, and is comprised of 909 total square miles, including 675 square miles of rural and farmlands, 150 square miles of urban land area, including cities and unincorporated areas, and 84 square miles of water.

Notice of Intent to Bid Required

All prospective Proposers must notify the SEMSC through an Intent to Bid by the deadline specified in this RFP. This expedites the review process of identifying panelists who have no conflicts to score the proposals. The Intent to Bid must be emailed to Umiika Wright at uwright@solanocounty.gov .

The intent of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to define the County’s minimum requirements and solicit proposals for all emergency ambulance services within the Exclusive Operating Area (EOA).

This RFP seeks proposals for all emergency ambulance services within the Exclusive Operating Area (EOA), including the cities of Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vallejo, and the unincorporated areas of the County, and is subject to the performance standards and other specifications herein. Proposer(s) must meet all credentialing and scope of service requirements as listed in the RFP. Each proposal will be analyzed and evaluated in these areas before a recommendation to award is made. It is the intent of SEMSC and this RFP to have one (1) EOA, which excludes the City of Vacaville.

Existing EMS Services
Currently in the county, there are two 9-1-1 ambulance providers, one serving the City of Vacaville and the remainder of the county being served by a private provider. The future EOA provider is expected to ensure that the cities of Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vallejo, and the unincorporated areas of the county are adequately served, either by themselves or through mutual aid. The current EOA providers dispatch their own ambulances.

General Requirements and Governing Law
California H&SC, Section 1797.224 permits SEMSC to establish EOAs. In addition to California H&SC, SEMSC may establish certain rules and regulations that govern the operation of emergency ambulance services within the contractual jurisdiction. State law, contractual standards stipulated in the RFP and future addenda, SEMSC resolutions, ordinances, rules, regulations, and published operational and medical policies of the SEMSC, California EMS Authority, and this RFP set forth the requirements for service for the EOA, and all Proposers shall comply with them. Collectively, they are referred to as the "governing law" in this RFP.

During the Contract term, the contract may be modified by consent of the SEMSC and the Contractor. Acceptable modifications include changes to improve the efficiency of the EMS system, reduce costs, or improve clinical care. This includes but may not be limited to:

1. Modifying response time standards, response patterns, time standards, and geographic zones within the EOA, which are based upon clinical evidence or science, and
2. Implementing innovative services, non-ambulance transport, and treat and refer programs.

Exclusive Operating Areas
The County is currently divided into two EOA zones, with one (1) covering the areas of Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vallejo, and the unincorporated areas, and the other covering the City of Vacaville. The latter is not part of this RFP process.

This RFP is for 9-1-1 ambulance services that includes the cities of Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vallejo, and the unincorporated areas. The ambulance transport volume of multiple communities allows for all areas to be served - whether urban or rural. This approach ensures the county’s low population areas, and the densely populated cities are served equally. The authority of SEMSC allows the restriction of operations to one emergency ambulance provider within the EOA. However, except as provided in statute and regulation, nothing limits a Proposer(s) from subcontracting the ambulance service for the betterment of the county residents and visitors, consistent with the requirements of this RFP. One example of a regulation that provides subcontract requirements is H&SC, Section 1797.231.

The Proposer(s) shall describe how it will provide emergency ground ambulance service for the Solano County EOA in a manner and standard of care consistent with this RFP’s requirements for providing emergency ground ambulance service.

Proposer(s) shall include plans, documentation, policies, and submissions that demonstrate the proposer's ability to comply with:

1. All elements described in this RFP:
2. All applicable federal and state legal requirements for ground ambulance service, and
3. All County ordinances and SEMSC/LEMSA policies.

Proposer(s) shall note that the county is diverse in population and geography. All residents and visitors deserve equal patient care. A comprehensive proposal will demonstrate a thorough understanding of the County's specific service needs and operational environment.

Period of Operation
Unless initiated earlier by mutual agreement, this Contract shall commence at 8:00 a.m. on May 1, 2026, and terminate at 7:59 a.m. on May 1, 2031, unless extended or terminated as provided for herein. SEMSC shall make any decision regarding renewal of this Contract or any extension thereof; those decisions shall be made at least 18 months prior to the scheduled termination date so that if no extension is approved, a new proposal process can be conducted on a schedule that will identify the new Contractor at least four (4) months prior to that scheduled termination date. The initial Contract period will be five (5) years. SEMSC may extend the Contract for one (1) additional five (5) year period based on historical performance at or above the Contract requirements as evaluated and approved by SEMSC. Any extension will be at the mutual agreement of both SEMSC and the contracted EOA provider.