Relating to a grant program to provide financial assistance to qualified ambulance service providers in certain rural counties.

Contracts

• County-Provider Agreements: You must amend existing service contracts to include an Indemnification Clause. Since the County is the grantee but the Provider holds the asset, the County will require protection against Comptroller "clawbacks" if the Provider fails to take possession of the ambulance within 5 years.
• Budget Protection: Insert a reference to Section 130.914(g) in your renewal negotiations. This statutory provision prevents the county from cutting your operational funding as a penalty for receiving this capital grant.
• Exclusivity: If you operate in multiple rural counties, you must contractually designate *one* specific county to submit the application on your behalf, as providers are limited to one grant beneficiary status per fiscal year.

Hiring/Training

• Government Relations: Assign a liaison immediately to lobby the County Commissioners Court. The County is not required to apply for this grant; you must convince them to sponsor your application.
• Procurement Compliance: Staff responsible for purchasing must be trained on state procurement standards to ensure the ambulance purchase meets the Comptroller's forthcoming specifications to avoid grant disqualification.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Segregated Accounts: Counties must deposit grant funds into a dedicated, interest-bearing account. Providers must ensure their invoicing aligns strictly with this account's restrictions.
• Proof of Possession: You must implement a tracking system to retain all purchase orders, delivery receipts, and VIN registrations for five years. Failure to prove possession within this window triggers a full repayment penalty.
• Eligibility Data: Compile call volume and service area data now to prove you operate "predominantly" in the qualified county.

Fees & Costs

• No Application Fee: There is no state fee to apply.
• Legal Costs: Budget for legal counsel to draft the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Provider and the County regarding grant administration and liability.