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Sandoval County authorizes IH2S contract for annual firefighter health screenings
Summary
The Sandoval County Board authorized the county manager to approve a professional services agreement with IH2S to provide annual health screenings and cancer screening options for firefighters; commissioners voted unanimously after a brief question-and-answer exchange about mandating the exams.
Sandoval County commissioners on March 25 authorized the county manager to approve a professional services agreement (PSA) with IH2S to provide annual health screenings for Sandoval County Fire and Rescue personnel and to approve subsequent amendments to the contract.
The request, presented by the fire chief (the presenter), said IH2S won the county RFP and has provided services to the county for about eight years. The vendor operates a mobile trailer that the presenter said will be stationed at Station 44 and travel to other locations such as Cuba and La Cueva to offer EKGs, blood work, hearing and eye tests, and physician-conducted physical exams. The presenter added that the new PSA adds yearly cancer screenings for hot‑zone firefighters and ultrasound options for support staff.
“We've also gotten in there, and I mentioned this last week, cancer screenings is what we're actually really excited about,” the chief said, describing the expanded services. The chief also explained how the vendor schedules appointments and that many volunteers use the visits for routine care.
Commissioner Juarez asked whether the screenings are mandatory. The chief replied that hot‑zone firefighters must obtain medical clearance and that personnel will not be permitted to perform hot‑zone duties without the required medical clearance obtained through this process. “If you're a hot zone firefighter, you will … not get close to burning building work without receiving a physical through this company,” the chief said.
After the brief discussion the board voted; the clerk conducted a roll call and the commissioners present voted in the affirmative. The motion to authorize the PSA and allow the county manager to approve amendments carried and the county will proceed with contracting and scheduling the vendor’s visits.
The board also heard that the county expects a modest cost increase from the prior contract period, attributed to the passage of time since the last agreement. The presenter said the service has high participation and that many older volunteers rely on it as a primary source of preventive care.
Next steps: the county manager is authorized to finalize the PSA and approve routine amendments; the county will schedule the mobile trailer visits to stations noted in the presentation.
