Merced County discusses six‑month ambulance contract extension as state delays RFP

Merced County supervisors on Tuesday discussed a proposed short-term extension of the county’s exclusive ambulance contract after the state delayed the county’s next request for proposals (RFP).

The discussion mattered because the county uses an exclusive operating area (EOA) contract to ensure ambulance coverage across rural areas; county staff said the extension would allow the winning vendor of the next RFP six months to ramp up operations and preserve continuity of service.

Dr. Sullivan, Merced County public health director, told the board that the county’s current provider, identified in the meeting as SAMSA, is meeting the county’s timeliness standard this year and that the extension is being considered because the state has not yet approved the new RFP. “We'd…