Argos Council approves EMS upgrade quotes
EMS Director Sarah Mccallum presented three quotes to the Argos Town Council that would upgrade some of the department’s ambulance equipment.
“What this does, it upgrades both ambulances with the exact same cot. So, we’re adding an upgrade to one ambulance, adding a new cot with an upgrade to the second ambulance so they’re compatible,” said Council President George Null.
Mccallum explained in the work session prior to the meeting that one of the quotes was for a power load system and power cot. Mccallum said that, currently, the department only has the performance load and power cot in one ambulance. The other ambulance has a different system and suffer from cots that don’t work at times.
Mccallum said that the Stryker power cot itself is
quoted at $20,000. Mccallum said that each Ferno cot could be traded in for $2,500. The rest of the quote included supplies and miscellaneous equipment for the cot. The total cost of the quotes totaled about $63,000.
By purchasing these upgrades, Mccallum said that it would be “easier and more convenient for patient care.”
Council Member Shawn Harley made a motion to accept the three quotes which totaled $63,471.74. With the trade-in of $7,500, that would bring the total down to $55,971.74.
Town Attorney Derek Jones asked if the quotes were for three different pieces of equipment.
“They were three different pieces of equipment, but together they make a unit,” said Mccallum.
Jones then asked if they received multiple quotes for each different piece of equipment.
There was only one quote submitted for each of the three pieces of equipment.
Jones asked about the threshold for seeking bids and whether the $63,471.74 exceeded it. Clerk-treasurer Lisa Mullaney said that she was “pretty sure” it was $150,000.
“I’m comfortable if they’re under $50,000 to say we’re okay, but I’d say we probably should look into that if we’re looking at big dollar purchases to make sure that we’re getting things out in terms of it’s the value of what’s being purchased in terms of what dictates we have to get quotes from three different suppliers or if we have to do public bids or what we have to do,” Jones said.
The council approved the motion unanimously.
Mullaney, in the work session, informed the council that $30,000 is in her budget already