The City of Sioux Falls is one step closer to settling contract negotiations for a new ground ambulance service provider, after an independent hearing from the city verified that the selection process was fair. The ruling will allow the city to continue working with Paramedics Plus on a new contract.

This hearing is a result of an appeal from Med-Star Paramedic Ambulance of Brandon. The ambulance provider claimed the city’s selection process was biased. Med-Star is one of the four service providers who submitted proposals for the city’s contract.

The city’s selection committee chose Paramedics Plus back in November. Rural Metro served as the city’s previous ambulance provider. The current contract will expire in May, and Public Health Director Jill Franken says she hopes the transition from Rural Metro to Paramedics Plus will be ready by this Spring, in a statement from the city. The decision to select a new ambulance provider is due to the city’s substantial growth since the last contract was signed in 2007, according to Franken in Argus Leader report.

“This ruling recognizes the objective processes used by the city, as well as the hard work done by many people throughout our RFP process,” Franken said in a statement from the city. “We are excited to work with Paramedics Plus and look forward to the improvements in our Emergency Medical Services System that will result from the RFP process and these contract negotiations.”

Paramedics Plus also operates in Texas; Oakland, Calif.; St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Fla.