Eureka council members discussed how Senate Bill 215 may affect the way the city selects an emergency medical services provider when the current contract ends next August.

Why it matters: the city must determine whether it must run a full procurement process or may rely on a sole-source procurement in a rural area, which affects how the county and city coordinate EMS coverage.

Shay, a staff member, told the council that she had consulted the Utah League of Cities and Towns and the Utah Association of Counties and found differing views on the bill's procurement requirements. "Some people think that you do have to go through, like, extensive procurement processes to acquire a new EMS provider, and others think that in rural communities, you could just simply claim a sole source," Shay said.

Shay said Eureka's EMS contract with the county expires next August and that an RFP would need to be issued about six months earlier (February) if the council chooses that route. Council members asked whether the fire district provides EMS; staff confirmed EMS currently is provided through the county.

Brad, a staff member, said his initial reaction was that Eureka likely could proceed as a sole source in a rural area but he would confirm and email the council with a final determination. "My initial reaction is most likely it will be a sole source kind of situation rather than going through a full blown RFP process. But I want to double check that, and I will email the council tomorrow," Brad said.

Direction: staff will confirm the legal procurement pathway under Senate Bill 215 and advise the council before the contract renewal window opens next February. The council took no formal procurement action during the work meeting.