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Commissioners direct negotiations on EMS contract after city contribution falls through
Summary
With Carrizo Springs declining to increase its contribution, Dimmit County directed staff to negotiate an EMS contract with Victory Ambulance at approximately $650,000 per year (negotiated as a two-year term in the motion); commissioners debated term length, payment timing and start date.
Dimmit County commissioners on Jan. 13 reviewed the county’s ongoing procurement for emergency medical services and directed negotiation and approval steps after the City of Carrizo Springs declined to increase its cost share.
Staff said Victory Ambulance was the lowest responsive bidder on a prior solicitation and that the county had been operating month-to-month on services billed at roughly $600,000 per year. With the city no longer contributing, staff reported two negotiation proposals from Victory: $600,000 per year for two years, or $650,000 per year for a longer term. Commissioners expressed concern about committing to a five-year term in an environment of rising costs. A motion was moved and seconded to set the contract at $650,000 per year for two years and to proceed with contract negotiation and execution.
Commissioners and staff also discussed payment timing and the contract start date (noted as Feb. 1 in the discussion), and whether prior minutes accurately reflected authorization to negotiate. County staff said they had been authorized to negotiate with Victory following the bid opening and that any failed negotiation would be reported back to the court and the procurement process restarted. The court discussed logistics for monthly payments and contractors’ invoicing cycles.
Next steps: county negotiators will finalize contract language consistent with the court’s direction and return to commissioners if negotiation fails or alternative terms are required.
