Federal Agencies Collaborate To Aid Special Need Evacuations
DHS/FEMA, HHS & GSA partner to ensure medical transport needs
Release Date: August 16, 2006
Release Number: 1603-523
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the General Services Administration (GSA), is announcing the award of service contracts for emergency ground ambulance and para-transit services in the State of Louisiana during emergencies or disasters.
This award is evident of the federal government's efforts to develop a more collaborative and strategic government-wide approach to bring the full resources of the government in responding to national emergencies.
"The federal government is learning how to better integrate the expertise of agencies to better serve this country in times of national crisis," said Deidre Lee, FEMA Deputy Director of Operations and Chief Acquisitions Officer. "This collaboration is just as much about demonstrating inter-agency effectiveness as it is in meeting the current needs of the State of Louisiana."
This was echoed by Gil Jamieson, Principal Federal Official responsible for managing an emergency federal response in Louisiana, "These contracts will support the close coordination between FEMA and the State of Louisiana bringing in additional resources into the state to ensure that critical care patients can be evacuated safely and in a timely manner."
Two contractors, American Medical Response (AMR) and ACADIAN, will provide health and medical transportation services to supplement state and local resources in the event of a presidentially declared disaster or emergency. Services are contracted for the State of Louisiana, but are specifically targeted for emergency medical evacuations along the 12 coastal parishes. These are performance-based contracts awarded with a base period providing services through November 30, 2006. The estimated amount of the base period is $265 million funded by FEMA. In addition, two (2) one (1) month option periods are provided covering services through January 30, 2007. The Total Ceiling Value of the two Contracts (if both option periods are exercised) shall not exceed $400,000.00.
"As the lead federal agency for health and medical services under the National Response Plan, HHS has worked closely with our federal and state partners to help Louisiana develop its medical evacuation plan," said HHS Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness RADM Craig Vanderwagen. "These contracts are an important element in insuring that assets are available to carry out this critical operation."
Within 24 hours of notification these two emergency transportation providers will provide up to 488 ambulances and para-transit vehicles capable of moving nearly 5,400 special need evacuees within 72 hours.
"This award represents an advancement for government wide collaboration on procurements for critical support during times of disasters and emergencies," said GSA Administrator Lurita Doan. "I am proud that GSA could support HHS and FEMA to deliver key components of the National Response Plan."
These contracts were openly advertised for competitive bid on FedBizOps and will run for the duration of the 2006 hurricane season expiring on November 30, 2006. Options permit the possibility of extension through January 30, 2007.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 18-Aug-2006 13:05:28