Protest filed against ambulance procurement

by Nick Delgado

Guam - It appears the Guam Fire Department's efforts to buy four new ambulances with a half-million dollars in grant money from the U.S. Department of the Interior are on hold. According to a letter obtained by KUAM News signed by General Services Agency chief procurement officer Claudia Acfalle the procurement of these brand new ambulances has been stayed as a result of a protest on the bid specifications lodged by Morrico Equipment on October 6.

In response to the protest, GFD Acting Fire Chief Joey San Nicolas says he has his staff working closely with GSA to review the bid specs. "It's a bump on the road and its understandable, we want to make sure the procurement process is fair across the board and if through a protest it was identified then we are going to make sure that we solve it," he said.

While San Nicolas says the protest puts a short delay on obtaining the new ambulances, efforts are already underway to get more units on the road. In less than 25 days GFD expects to get four new ambulances leased at $10,000 each through MidPac Far East on top of two surplus units at GSA for $11,000 each that is now awaiting final paperwork.

San Nicolas says GFD will also be using DOI funds from prior fiscal years to get two more units. There are currently three ambulances servicing the island today.

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