Colorado Springs EMS negotiations end with no contract

For the second time in two years, the city of Colorado Springs has ended a lengthy process of selecting and negotiating with a new company to take over EMS service without reaching a contract.

The city announced late Friday it has ended talks with Falck Ambulance.

Falck told the Gazette in a statement that it was unable to continue due to “unattainable commitments”, but it’s unclear exactly what those commitments are.

Two weeks ago, Newschannel 13 learned that Falck was slapped with a hefty fine and sent a letter demanding corrective action after failing to meet response time requirements when taking over a similar EMS contract in Alameda County, California.

Shortly after the talks ended, the city reached out to AMR, asking the longtime provider of EMS service to the city to enter into the same negotiations.

In a statement to KRDO, the company said it “appreciates the opportunity and looks forward to sitting down to discuss the EMS system in Colorado Springs.”

AMR has, at times, struggled to meet response times requirements in the city and county, and the new requirements laid out by the city in its initial Request For Proposal document are even tougher.

Because none of the bids submitted are public, it’s unclear how AMR plans to meet the new requirements, or whether the cost for service will have to increase to remain compliant.

KRDO