By Payton Randle
Argus Leader
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The city of Sioux Falls will get to move forward with its new choice of ambulance provider, Paramedics Plus, after an administrative hearing judge ruled that the bidding process used by the city to award a contract was “fair and equitable.”
The ruling, announced Monday, will allow the city to continue a negotiation process resulting in a contract with Texas-based Paramedics Plus to provide ground ambulance transport services. The contract details are being finalized and will go to the Sioux Falls City Council for informational meetings and readings on Feb. 2 and 10. The contract then must be approved by the council.
The administrative hearing judge, Michele Crissmanm, ruled against an appeal from a competing company, Med-Star Paramedic Ambulance of Brandon, that an unfair bidding process was used to select a new provider. At the hearing Jan. 8, Med-Star owner Jay Masur asserted that Fitch & Associates, a consulting company used by the city, was biased toward Paramedics Plus in its preparation of the request for proposals, or RFP.
Read Full Story: City wins appeal, moves forward with ambulance contract negotiations