Falck files protest on Emergency Medical Services contract award to competitor AMR on Maui and Kauaʻi

Falck USA filed a notice of protest today with the Hawai‘i Department of Health regarding the recent award of emergency medical services contracts for Maui and Kaua‘i counties.

The state Department of Health Emergency Medical Services Injury Prevention Systems Branch issued the awards earlier this week to International Life Support, Inc., doing business as American Medical Response (AMR) for ground ambulance service in both counties, beginning Jan. 1, 2025. 

An earlier award was issued in September 2023 to Falck Northwest Corp., but the procurement was canceled in October 2023 amid a protest by AMR. Paramedics organizations on both islands had argued that under the RFP, there was no minimum level of Advanced Life Support coverage, with no preferred ratio between Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support ambulance deployment.

Under the new contracts awarded this week, there are assurances that every district has an ambulance staffed with a paramedic and a second responder who is at least an EMT, which are the current qualifications for, and level of staffing. The latest award also provides a second ambulance for Moloka‘i, and adds requirements for a quality assurance coordinator and a pediatric emergency care coordinator, among other improvements in quality and performance.

Falck issued a statement today saying: “We filed a notice of protest after identifying what appears to be a clear error in calculating Falck’s scores, along with inconsistencies in the evaluation criteria used to award the contracts. We look forward to opening discussions with the Department of Health and ensuring these vitally important emergency medical services contracts are awarded based on a fair and transparent process.”

Falck reports that it continues to “stand ready to serve.” “As a foundation-owned healthcare provider, we would bring a fresh perspective, unmatched financial stability, reliable services developed around global best practices, and a deep commitment to delivering the highest quality care to the communities we serve,” according to a company statement.