Layton Fire to issue RFP for EMS provider after state licensing changes; city seeks to remain provider

Layton City Fire briefed the council on June 19 about a statewide revamp of ambulance licensing and relicensing under Senate Bill 215 and related rule changes, explaining a short compliance timeline and staff plans to issue a required request for proposals (RFP).

Assistant Chief Scott Mahl and fire staff told the council that SB 215 followed a legislative audit and reorganized how ambulance services and interfacility transports are licensed. Staff said the state’s rules were not finalized at the time of the meeting (rules expected in October), but the city’s current ambulance license expires July 31; the state issued a checklist to help agencies comply. Chief staff explained the new law gives the governing body the ability to designate its EMS provider for both 9‑1‑1 response and interfacility transport, and it requires a formal procurement process in many cases.

Fire staff described Layton’s current operational model: five ambulances staffed 24/7 as minimum staffing, clinical capability (about 84 licensed paramedics/advanced EMTs), physician medical‑director oversight, rapid response performance (staff reported 92 percent compliance with the 5‑minute, 20‑second standard), and in‑house ambulance billing that collects roughly 96 percent of collectible revenue. They outlined the department’s revenue mix, noting an EMS enterprise fund supports a portion of fire staffing and that interfacility transports (about 2,059 in 2024) are billed to patients rather than hospitals.

Staff told the council they will post an RFP the following day and keep it open for 10 days as required by statute; if respondents propose alternative service models, the city must evaluate them. Staff indicated they will seek a letter of intent from the council to state Layton Fire Department’s desire to continue as the municipal EMS provider, and they warned that contracting EMS to an outside for‑profit provider can reduce local control over response quality and integration with fire operations.

Council members asked practical questions about dispatch, radio integration, response times and how a contractor would operate from city fire stations. Staff said any outside provider would need to be colocated at or post near fire stations to meet response-performance expectations. No formal action was taken; staff asked the council to authorize the procurement process and to provide a future letter of intent once proposals are received and evaluated.