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APPROVE MOTION TO AUTHORIZE FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH BRADSHAW CONSULTING SERVICES, INC FOR THE MARVLIS SYSTEM STATUS MANAGEMENT PLATFORM TO SUPPORT COUNTYWIDE AMBULANCE DISPATCH
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve a motion to:
1. Approve findings pursuant to Stockton Municipal Code Section 3.68.070 supporting an exception to the competitive bidding process; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute a five-year Agreement with Bradshaw Consulting Services, Inc. for the MARVLIS System Status Management platform, in an amount not to exceed $534,280.80.
It is also recommended that the City Manager be authorized to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this motion.
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Summary
The Stockton Fire Department Emergency Communications Division has been designated as the countywide emergency ambulance dispatch center for the CENCAL Fire and EMS Authority, with operational responsibility commencing May 1, 2026. To support this expanded role, staff recommends approval of a five-year software license and support agreement with Bradshaw Consulting Services, Inc. for MARVLIS, a System Status Management (SSM) platform that provides real-time ambulance deployment management, operational analytics, and contractual compliance monitoring.
DISCUSSION
Background
The CENCAL Fire and EMS Authority (CENCAL) is a Joint Powers Authority formed by the City of Stockton, the City of Lodi, and the South San Joaquin County Fire Authority to provide ambulance transport services within Exclusive Operating Area (EOA) Zones X and Y, as well as countywide emergency ambulance dispatch. Following CENCAL’s award by the San Joaquin County Emergency Medical Services Agency, the Stockton Fire Department Emergency Dispatch Center will serve as CENCAL’s subcontracted ambulance dispatch provider. This transition significantly expands the Dispatch Center’s operational scope and complexity, requiring enhanced integration of ambulance and fire resources, real-time systemwide situational awareness, and expanded performance management capabilities to support regional service delivery.
On January 27, 2026, City Council approved $1.112 million in startup funding to support pre-operational staffing and technology necessary to implement countywide ambulance dispatch, including System Status Management. That appropriation included approximately $337,000 for technology and systems required to support ambulance deployment and dispatch integration in Fiscal Year 2025-26.
Present Situation
Countywide ambulance dispatch requires coordinated emergency call processing, unit assignment, and active system management across multiple jurisdictions. Modern EMS systems rely on System Status Management (SSM) to dynamically deploy ambulance resources based on real-time operational conditions and historical demand. SSM platforms analyze call volume, unit availability, travel time, and geographic coverage to recommend ambulance posting locations throughout the day, replacing static assignments with dynamic deployment to maintain systemwide coverage and support contractual response-time compliance.
The MARVLIS platform supports this operational model through real-time system status management, automated deployment recommendations, operational dashboards, and performance analytics. MARVLIS integrates directly with the City’s existing Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system through a live interface, exchanging unit status, assignments, and location data. This integration provides dispatch personnel with a unified operational view and ensures deployment decisions are based on current system conditions.
Without an integrated SSM platform, ambulance dispatch operations would rely on fragmented workflows and static deployment models, increasing workload, reducing coverage consistency, and materially impairing the City’s ability to meet contractual performance standards. For a countywide, multi-jurisdictional system, this creates significant operational and compliance risk.
Bradshaw Consulting Services is the developer and licensor of MARVLIS and is the only vendor identified by the City’s CAD provider, CentralSquare Technologies, with a production-ready, vendor-supported interface compatible with the City’s existing CAD environment. Staff conducted market research in coordination with CentralSquare and evaluated other SSM platforms used in comparable EMS systems. No alternative solutions demonstrated certified CAD compatibility or implementation readiness within the required timeline.
The County’s designation of Stockton Fire Department as the ambulance dispatch center includes a May 1, 2026 operational go-live requirement. Selecting a vendor without an existing validated CAD interface would require custom development and extended testing, introducing substantial schedule risk. Failure to deploy SSM with sufficient lead time would delay dispatch operations, jeopardize contractual compliance, result in lost dispatch revenue, and increase public safety risk. Bradshaw Consulting Services is the only identified vendor capable of delivering a fully compatible SSM solution within the required timeframe.
Findings
Pursuant to SMC section 3.68.070, Council may approve findings that support an exception to the competitive bidding process. These findings include:
1. Bradshaw Consulting Services, Inc. is the sole developer and licensor of the MARVLIS System Status Management platform, and the only vendor identified with a production-ready integration compatible with the City’s current CAD environment.
2. Conducting a competitive procurement would introduce unacceptable operational and schedule risk, as alternative solutions would require custom integration and extended testing, which cannot be completed within the required implementation timeline.
3. The proposed agreement is required to support countywide ambulance dispatch operations, including contractual response-time compliance, system performance reporting, and real-time deployment management necessary for daily operations.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The first-year cost of approximately $108,000 will be funded from the previously approved $1.112 million startup appropriation authorized by Resolution 2026-01-27-1204. Ongoing annual costs will be incorporated into the Emergency Communications Division annual operating budget.
Attachment A - Master Software License and Support Agreement with BCS