Bidding set for JEMS (03/10/2009)

Jay County Emergency Medical Services is eyeing a new ambulance but will have to play by the rules before it can have it.

JEMS director Teresa Foster-Geesaman approached the Jay County Commissioners with information about a near-new ambulance to replace one of the county's older vehicles. The new vehicle, a demo model from Life Star Rescue, Van Wert, Ohio, consists of a 2009 truck chassis and 2008 medical box for a reduced price of $145,220.

"We could have it today," she said as her department is looking to replace a 2002 chassis/1996 box vehicle with nearly 100,000 miles on it. "The truck is really, really nice."

The ambulance would be an upgrade from the county's older models and would allow JEMS to replace the chassis and re-fit the box as required. The medical box is designed to be more convenient for medical personnel and better equipped to fight corrosion and other aging.

But because the price is exceeds $75,000, the county will have to advertise and accept bids for the vehicle.

"If we're going to spend that much money we've got to bid it," commissioner Milo Miller Jr. said.

Commissioner Faron Parr called attorney Bill Hinkle just to double check.

"Can we move without advertising? No?" said Parr on the phone. Then turning to Miller, "We can't."

The commissioners told Foster-Geesaman to get specifications to bid the project and ask for both used and new prices to compare. If the vehicle was never licensed, since it served as a demo, Parr thought it may be considered new.

Even if the specific vehicle they talked about would have to be considered used, Miller said if it's far superior to any other bids for used ambulances the county could still purchase it despite it being pricier.

"The (Indiana) State Board of Accounts wants to see something," Miller said. "And if we don't take the lowest bid we have to explain why."

Foster-Geesaman said she will get in touch with the representative for Life Star and explain the situation and will hurry the bids along to try to scoop up this deal before someone else does.[[In-content Ad]]