Latest southern Colorado news, weather and sports from FOX21 News

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- After a long-term relationship with American Medical Response (AMR) the city has decided it wants to check out other options.

Wednesday Colorado Springs Fire Chief Rich Brown told the Emergency Services Agency (ESA) that the city wants to look for a new contract for emergency transport services.

Currently the ESA oversees ambulance services provided to both the city and El Paso County.

According to the city 85 percent of calls happen within city limits so they should have the final say when it comes down to who provides them.

The statement Brown read to the ESA board said 85 percent of emergency transports happen within Colorado Springs and 76 percent of the time CSFD is first on the scene.

AMR has held the contract with the ESA for nearly two decades and they said they were a bit surprised by the news.

"A bit of shock. We knew something was coming up we just didn't know what it was, so this is a bit of a shock," Scott Mccune, Operations Manager for AMR of Colorado Springs, said.

The city said AMR has done nothing wrong but they want to make sure they're being as fiscally responsible as possible.

"That has been the fire departments motivation. They want to improve the system and enhance the system which is fine. We're always looking for ways to improve," Mccure said.

The current contract with AMR expires next year.

In the meantime the city will issue an RFP or Request For Proposal and gather bids from other service providers.

AMR could still be the city's service provider but under different terms.

"We don't know how that's going to impact the citizens and the city and the county. Again we just need to wait for the RFP to be released and see how to respond to it," Mccure said.

Until then Mccure said it will be business as usual.

"It definitely was an impact on morale with the employees. We're two days into this news now so they're dealing with it, they're coping with it. They're just like us waiting for the RFP to be released."

One potential part of the new contract could include reimbursements for the fire department's services from the contract provider which is done in some other cities.

That has raised concerns about increased costs for patients.