Cohoes weighs service bids

Competition sparked by new monthly ambulance fee

COHOES — The city received three proposals to provide ambulance service for up to three years starting April 15, officials said Friday.

The city Board of Managers, which oversees the opening of contract bids, will meet Monday morning at City Hall to complete its review of the proposals and determine who to recommend to the Common Council to receive the contract.

The proposals came from the Albany County Sheriff ’s Office, Mohawk Ambulance and Ambulnz, which has provided the emergency medical coverage since taking over Empire Ambulance.

Ambulnz is charging the city $50,000 per month, or $600,000 annually, to supply ambulance coverage. The city hadn’t been paying for ambulance service. The municipality decided to seek bids as a result.

Mayor Bill Keeler said the city continues to receive good ambulance service since Ambulnz took over Feb. 1. But with a new $50,000 monthly fee, the city decided to see if there were other alternatives.

Keeler said the city had not budgeted for the emergency services coverage, but has the financial reserves to cover the cost.

The Common Council approved spending $150,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to cover up to three months of ambulance service. The Cohoes Fire Department provided ambulance coverage in the 1970s but the city decided to find another provider due to costs.

In seeking proposals for ambulance coverage, the city outlined what services it wants to receive. This includes advanced life support from an ambulance unit with a backup unit available.

The city also wants information about response times by ambulances going to calls.

“The proposal shall specify the contractor’s intended response times to be incorporated into the contract, with penalties for non-compliance. The proposal shall identify the company’s intended staffing, training and certification of staff and age, condition and replacement periods for machinery and equipment,” according to the city documents outlining its service request.

The city will provide space for the am

bulance if the firm receiving the contract decides to rent the space instead of locating elsewhere. Empire Ambulance operated out of the city’s Central

Avenue Fire House.

The contract is for one year with the city having the option of renewing it for up to two more years.

kcrowe@timesunion.com 518-454-5084 @KennethCrowe