County rejects Pafford ambulance services' proposal; authorizes attorney to enter negotiations with Acadian Ambulance Services

During an emergency Hancock County Board of Supervisors meeting on Friday, the board rejected Pafford Emergency Medical Service’s proposal for countywide ambulance services.

At the April 15 meeting, the board awarded ambulance services to Pafford.

The board entered into executive session, pursuant to 25-41-7-4b, “strategy sessions or negotiations with respect to prospective litigation, litigation, or issuance of an appealable order when an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the public body.”

After the board exited executive session, the board approved a resolution, read aloud by county attorney Gary Yarborough.

“A resolution of the Hancock County Mississippi Board of Supervisors to reject Pafford Emergency Medical Services as non-responsive, authorizing county attorney to negotiate with Acadian Ambulance Services while reserving all rights with the RFP (requests for proposals) for emergency ambulance services,” he said.

Prior to the April 1 deadline for RFPs, Yarborough said, Pafford Emergency Medical Services and Acadian Ambulance Services submitted proposals to the county.

“The RFP required the proposers to submit with the proposal certain information and documents for the proposal to be responsive and considered including without limitation, number one a company profile which must include firm’s name and corporate home of business address, including telephone number,” he said. “The proposer shall also execute the attached non-inclusion affidavit and hold harmless agreement.”

Yarborough said Pafford failed to provide the required “non-inclusion affidavit and hold harmless agreements, making it ineligible for award.”

“Following the initial scoring of the product’s experience, qualifications and financial stability of the entity, the board of supervisors authorized negotiations with Pafford, however reserving all rights within the RFP and further authorized alternative negotiations with Acadian to the extent an agreement is not entered with Pafford,” Yarborough said. “Given Pafford’s failure to provide a response to document and failing to provide an adequate offer that can be accepted, Pafford is ineligible for award of a contract consistent with the plain terms for the RFP.”

The board approved the resolution and authorized Yarborough to enter into negotiations with Acadian Ambulance Services.

The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for May 6 at 9 a.m.