American Medical Response and Boulder parting ways
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
American Medical Response (AMR) will close its Boulder facility after being informed it will no longer be the city's ambulance provider, but it will still provide services for unincorporated Boulder County.
Why it matters: The move ends a 14-year partnership and signals how Boulder is rethinking its approach to emergency medical services.
Driving the news: AMR will close its Boulder facility at 3800 Pearl St. and lay off 87 people at the end of the year, according to a layoff notice filed on Oct. 31.
- AMR confirmed to BizWest last week that the closure was based on the city of Boulder's decision to sign with a different ambulance provider in 2026.
What they're saying: "Our priority is to ensure a seamless transition and ongoing support for the city and county of Boulder," spokesperson Kirsten Gurmendi told BizWest.
Behind the scenes: The city has partnered with AMR since 2011, but its contract with the ambulance provider ends this year.
- The city put out requests for proposals over the summer, Jamie Barker, a spokesperson for Boulder Fire-Rescue, told Axios Boulder.
- After evaluating the proposals, including one from AMR, the city selected Falck, which also serves Aurora. Barker did not disclose specifics of the evaluations.
- The city and Falck will have a three-year contract with an option for an extension of no more than two years, Barker said.
The intrigue: AMR still has a contract with Boulder County for unincorporated areas.
- The county's contract with AMR does not expire for another year, Boulder County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Vinnie Montez told Axios Boulder.
The big picture: The shorter contract with Falck, compared with the initial five-year agreement with AMR in 2011, may provide the city flexibility should it choose to pursue other ambulance service options in the future.
- Boulder Fire-Rescue Chief Michael Calderazzo told Boulder City Council in 2022 that the ultimate goal was for the city to have its own ambulance fleet, according to the Daily Camera.