Hospital-Based ECMO, Specialty Care, Critical Care and Interfacility Transport-EMS Partnership

University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC) is soliciting proposals under RFP 437-10-26-002 to establish a partnership with a qualified Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provider. The goal is to support a hospital-based ECMO, Specialty Care, Critical Care, and Interfacility Transport Program serving El Paso County, West Texas, and Southern New Mexico. While UMC intends to provide the specialty transport ambulances, advanced clinical equipment, and qualified clinical personnel, the selected partner must provide the necessary licensing, franchise authority, staffing, and operational infrastructure. The program specifically focuses on high-acuity services, including ECMO retrieval, mechanical circulatory support, cardiogenic shock, and advanced mechanical ventilation, while generally excluding standard 911 or scene-response operations. The selected provider will be responsible for the registration, insurance, and preventive maintenance of UMC-owned assets and must implement a collaborative medical direction model. Proposals must include flexible staffing models, such as dedicated, on-call, or 24/7 operations. To be considered, respondents must submit a signed Response Agreement, Conflict of Interest Questionnaire, and Public Integrity Disclosure via the Bonfire portal by October 27, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. MT. Award decisions will be based on written submittals and potential oral presentations, with the Hospital District maintaining the right to reject any proposal. The contractor must maintain liability insurance of at least 1 million dollars per incident and 3 million dollars aggregate, and must comply with HIPAA and OIG regulations.