Township to Solicit Bids for Ambulance Services

With a little less than three months to go on a short-term emergency contract with Kennedy Health System, Gloucester Township officials are already thinking about what emergency-medical services (EMS) provider will serve the township for 2013 and beyond.

The Township Council briefly discussed the bid process during its workshop Monday night.

"The specs that we've put together are pretty much in accordance with the level of service we are receiving now—EMTs will be manning that 24/7 period of time," Solicitor David Carlamere said. "All of those specs will be reviewed."

Council is expected to vote to authorize township officials to advertise for bids at its meeting Oct. 8.

Gloucester Township EMS Alliance was banished as the township's ambulance service on June 26 following an unannounced inspection by New Jersey Office of Emergency Medical Services (NJOEMS) personnel turned up a number of violations on Alliance ambulances.

Several EMS Alliance ambulances had been on the road while unregistered for more than 75 days, according to NJOEMS, and there were several equipment and supply deficiencies found on the vehicles.

NJOEMS levied a $6,250 fine against Gloucester Township EMS Alliance in August. (Editor's Note: See penalty notice to right.)

Following a heated public session during its July 2 meeting, Council unanimously approved an emergency resolution naming Kennedy as EMS provider for the second half of 2012.

Kennedy is to have two staffed ambulances in the township 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a third ambulance in town between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day, under its six-month agreement with the township.

Carlamere noted Gloucester Township EMS Alliance is eligible to bid for the EMS contract.

"It is going to be open for an open bid," he said.