Questions surrounding transparency and procedural fairness in the Sabine Parish EMS Request for Proposals (RFP) process have prompted heightened public concern and renewed calls for community involvement.
According to information brought forward in recent days, the Attorney General’s Office has reviewed allegations related to the Police Jury and EMS Advisory Board’s handling of the EMS provider selection process. One issue under scrutiny involves changes made to scoring and criteria during evaluation.
Documents indicate that Pafford Ambulance would have led the scoring had adjustments not been made to scoring sheets — specifically, the alteration of multiple scores from 10 to 20 by a board member. The tally was reportedly taken in a session later deemed improper, raising further concerns about the legitimacy of the evaluation.
Another concern centers on an alleged change to Acadian Ambulance’s required response time, which was modified from 19 minutes to 25 minutes during the RFP process. Because response times are considered a material component of an EMS contract, any change of that significance typically requires a formal addendum, notification to all vendors, and an opportunity for revised submissions. Without that, the process risks being invalidated or challenged.
Community members advocating for accountability argue that the EMS RFP should be restarted to ensure a legal, transparent, and fair process for all providers. They emphasize that the issue is not which vendor wins, but that the decision is made properly and in accordance with state procurement rules.
A special call meeting of the Sabine Parish EMS Advisory Board has been scheduled for Monday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. in the Police Jury Meeting Room in Many. The posted agenda includes an executive session to discuss the professional competence of Acadian Ambulance, Med Express, and Pafford, followed by the tallying of proposal scores.
Residents are being urged to attend to ensure community oversight and support a transparent process before any final EMS contract decision is made.
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