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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-07-1999 - 8fORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: December 7, 1999 Action Agenda Item No. 8-.~ SUBJECT: Orange EMS and Rescue Squad Contract -Ambulance Transport Service DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Existing Contract Nick Waters, ext 3030 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough .732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider extending the present contract with Orange EMS and Rescue Squad to provide ambulance transportation for EMS through March 31, 2000. BACKGROUND: Beginning in .October 1996, .the County changed its method of delivering emergency medical .services. Since that time, the ambulance transportation component of EMS has been provided under terms of a .contract between the County and. South Orange Rescue Squad. The contract has been .renewed each year since .and the Rescue Squad has provided personnel for the transport component of EMS. Since South .Orange merged earlier this year with the Orange County Rescue Squad, the organization (now known as Orange EMS and Rescue Squad, :Inc.) has been working through some organizational issues. The. existing contract was extended twice from June 30, 1999 through December 31, 1999. County staff feels that an additional extension of the current contract for 90 days is necessary to give the Squad. time to work out some remaining details with the Board of Directors of the Squad. These are issues that could affect the terms of the contract with the Squad. Staff would then plan to bring back an updated contract in .March 2000 for the Board's approval. That contract would run through the remainder of the 1999-2000 fiscal year. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There will be some staff time involved in attending meetings involving squad organizational business. The terms of the current contract involve the County reimbursing the. legitimate EMS related expenses equal to $482,830. This amount is included in the approved departmental budget for 1999-2000, so adequate funds are available to cover the 90 day contract extension. There is no increase in cost for the contract with Orange EMS and Rescue over the previous fiscal year. la RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the extension of the terms of the current contract with the Rescue Squad through March 31, 2000. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA 2 COUNTY OF ORANGE AGREEMENT BETWEEN SOUTH ORANGE ENDS AND RESCUE SQUAD, INC. AND ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into the 30th day of June,1998, by and between South Orange EMS and Rescue Squad, Inc., hereinafter referred to as "THE SQUAD" and Orange County, North Carolina, hereinafter referred to as `THE COUNTY", for and on behalf of its Office of Emergency Management Services. WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, THE COUNTY pursuant to the authority contained in N.C.G.S. 153A-250(b), wishes to have a private non-profit organization provide transportation services as part of its emergency medical system using personnel other than County Staff and to compensate said agency for those services; and QJ]FIEREAS, THE SQUAD desires to provide this service to THE COUNTY. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the following mutual promises, covenants and conditions, THE COUNTY and THE SQUAD agree as follows: I. SQUAD RESPONSIBILITIES A. To name a single point of contact that has the right and authority to conduct business on behalf of THE SQUAD. The. name of this individual shall be provided to THE COUNTY upon the signing of this agreement. THE SQUAD shall provide THE COUNTY with notice of any change in the contact person ~ working days prior to the effective date of the change. B. To provide staffing of ambulances 24 hours per day, 7 days per week at staffing levels established by agreement of the parties provided, however, that in no event shall THE SQUAD permit the staffing of ambulances used to provide services under this 1 agreement by individuals certified below the level of Emergency Medical Technician. C. To ensure that all personnel are trained, certified and current in all continuing education requirements pursuant to standards set by THE COUNTY, and other licensing/certification boards as may be appropriate. Evidence of certification required by N.C.G.S. 131E-159 shall be provided to THE COUNTY. THE SQUAD shall ensure that these. records are kept current. 3 D. To purchase items used by THE SQUAD in accordance with Orange County purchasing policies and procedures, and any relevant statutes, and to submit requests for payment for these items by the method and on forms specified by THE COUNTY and within budgeted appropriations. E. To maintain and provide documentation and requests for payroll reimbursements by the method and on forms as specified by THE COUNTY. F. To ensure that at all times when on duty, THE SQUAD's staff is attired in the uniform approved and/or provided by THE COUNTY. G. To perform daily checkouts of each unit, all supplies and equipment ax the beginning of each shift, and report any deficiencies to THE COUNTY in a manna approved by THE COUNTY. THE SQUAD shall not allow the supplies and equipment on each unit to .fall below the standards established by the North Carolina Medical. Care Commission. H. To properly maintain the vehicles provided by THE COUNTY in good working order and have necessary maintenance and repairs completed in the method approved by THE COUNTY. THE SQUAD shall keep and maintain records of the maintenance and operation of the vehicles in accordance withN.C.G.S. 131E-156. Copies of these records shall be fiunished to THE COUNTY. Further, it shall be the responsibility of THE SQUAD to notify THE COUNTY when to obtain or renew the ambulance permit required byN.C.G.S. 131E-156. I. THE SQUAD shall provide and maintain evidence of a current Ambulance Providers License, issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. 131E-155.1, to THE COUNTY. J. To provide a monthly expense report (salary, maintenance, supplies, fuel, and other associated operational costs) to THE COUNTY. K. THE SQUAD may enter into contracts or agreements with third pazties to provide services under this Agreement. any such arrangements shall provide that THE COUNTY will retain ultimate control and responsibility and that the third party will be bound by this Agreement. In any case, where THE SQUAD enters into an arrangement with third parties, and when such contracts aze not contrary to law, THE COUNTY shall 2 4 not be obligated or liable for any breach of contract or other action in law to any party other than THE SQUAD. L. THE SQUAD understands and agrees that the financial officer or designee of THE COUNTY shall have the right to inspect, upon reasonable notice, all books and records of THE SQUAD, and will be -given full .and complete access. II. COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES A. To provide ambulances sufficient enough to support the required staffing levels of THE SQUAD. However, any ambulances provided by THE COUNTY are and shall remain the property of THE COUNTY and upon termination of this agreement are to be returned to THE COUNTY in good working condition, reasonable wear and tear accepted.. B. To make purchases of items used by THE SQUAD in accordance with Orange County purchasing policies and procedures and to make payment for items purchased bg THE SQUAD with the approval of THE COUNTY within a time frame (not to exceed 30 days of receipt of a request for reimbursement) agreed on by THE COUNTY and THE SQUAD. C. To provide a process for reimbursement of SQUAD salary costs within a time frame (not to exceed 30 days of receipt of a request for reimbursement) agreed on by THE COUNTY and THE SQUAD. D. To provide a standard of uniforms for SQUAD personnel providing services pursuant to this Agreement. E. To provide necessary. supplies, equipment, fuel, and other medical essentials for the staffing of units to the level specified by THE COUNTY, and to provide a method of re-stocking units after each use. F. To provide reimbursement for the general preventive maintenance and vehicle repair for the ambulances used by THE SQUAD to pmvide servicespursuant to this Agreement. This includes vehicles owned by THE SQUAD, but used to provide services under this Agreement G. To retain full authority and responsibility for the care and treatment of all patients that use the EMS system; and to ensure that professional supervision is given during transportation by THE SQUAD. THE COUNTY'S medical director will supervise and provide medical care direction to THE SQUAD. H. To provide all required health and safety standards including vaccinations 3 for the members of THE SQUAD providing services under this Agreement. 5 I. To establish training and continuing education requirements on a schedule set by the Medical Director-which will assure adequate opportunity for maintenance of personnel certification. III. INSURANCE A. THE SQUAD will be responsible for the negligence of its employees and agents. Further, THE COUNTY shall define the amount and levels of insurance which THE SQUAD shall maintain for the activities performed pursuant to this Agreement as well as the buildings and equipment used to provide services under this .Agreement. It shall be ax THE COUNTY'S option to either provide the coverage through a policy purchased by THE COUNTY or to reimburse THE SQUAD for insurance policies purchased by them. Any policies of 1T1~~*+ce purchased directly by THE SQUAD shall be through an iny~,*Ance company acceptable to THE COUNTY. IV. TERM A. This agreement shall run from July 1,1998 through June 30,1999, and shall be renewable thereafter upon written agreements executed by both parties. V. TERIVIINATION A. The Agreement or its renewal may be terminated ax any time without penalty by either party provided that written notice of such termination is fiunished to the other party at least 60 days prior to termination» Tn the event of such termination any payment due shall be prorated to the date of termination. V. MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING A. THE SQUAD and THE COUNTY'understand and agree that nothing in this agreement shall be construed to create an exclusive arrangement between the parties, and THE COUNTY is free to provide services by other means. VII.. ENTIRE UNDERSTANDING A. The Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties and shall not be altered, amended or modified, except by an agreement in writing executed by the 4 any authorized officials of both parties. VIII. SITUS 6 ,~ A. The laws of North Carolina shall govern the validity and interpretation of the provisions, terms and conditions of this agreement IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto signed this Agreement in their official capacities of the day and year listed below. FOR AND ON BEHALF OF: SOUTH ORANGE EMS AND RESCUE. SQUAD, INC. ' DATE: ~,3~ 9 deFRIESS CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIItECTORS FOR AND ON BEHALF OF: ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA ,~ ATE: ~ Z / ~ g G BROWN CHAIR THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ATTEST: BEVERLY . BLYTI~ CLERK TO THE BOARD ~5