By Chris Paschenko
The Decatur Daily (Alabama)
Copyright 2006 The Decatur Daily
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
Representatives of nine ambulance companies told city officials last month that they were interested in becoming Decatur’s sole ambulance provider, but only six filed paperwork before Thursday’s deadline.
Two well-known companies, Huntsville Emergency Medical Services and American Medical Response, declined to submit requests for proposals.
Decatur’s Med-Call, which is owned by David Childers and operates outside the city limits and police jurisdiction, gave no response.
Childers, the most vocal advocate for competition among services, said the reason he decided not to file was twofold.
“In doing (a proposal), I contacted the Purchasing Department about a clause that said each applicant should submit managing experience in communities of at least 35,000 people in two of the past five years,” Childers said. “That disqualified me, because I haven’t been in business that long.”
Childers also said he believes the city designed the proposal to favor the current provider, Decatur Emergency Medical Services.
“The whole packet was tailor-made for them,” Childers said. “If you look at the radio system, their mobile-data terminals, if you look at all these, DEMSI already has it.”
Kelly Butler, assistant city attorney, denied Childers’ claims.
“The process is designed to provide the city of Decatur and its citizens with the best, highest quality care possible,” Butler said. “There is no other agenda or secret to it. Honestly, that’s it.”
Butler said language in the proposal didn’t bar start-up companies from submitting proposals.
Jon Howell, a Hartselle native and chief executive officer of Huntsville EMS, said it wasn’t the right time for his nonprofit company to expand to Decatur.
AMR spokesman Jim Pollard said AMR analyzed the opportunity and determined it “didn’t fit our business model at this time.”
The six companies submitting requests included Lifeguard Transportation, Rural/ Metro, Lifecare of Alabama, Care Ambulance, NorthStar EMS and Decatur EMS.
After Thursday’s meeting with Butler, purchasing specialist Laura Martin and Fire Marshal Darwin Clark, Brett Jovanovich, vice president of Lifeguard, said the city’s 30-plus- page proposal is comparable to others his company has seen throughout the Southeast.
“We’re doing one now in Florida,” said Jovanovich, careful not to tip competitors to the specific location. “I do think it was written very well. It’s very thorough and well organized.”
Butler said the city would interview representatives from each company for one hour on Nov. 14 and 15.
Clark said the city’s police chief, fire chief, chief financial officer and members of the Emergency Medical Services Committee will score the companies during the interviews based on requirements such as credentials, operations, personnel, quality and finances.
Officials could have a recommendation ready for the City Council to consider by January, Butler said.