Next year, who will respond to treat victims of the car accident involving your friend or the fire at your neighbor’s house? Those questions are up in the air until later this year as the city mulls proposals on a new ambulance service contract.
The City Council passed a resolution on Wednesday, Oct. 15, that put Bayonne’s ambulance contract out for bid.
The late addition to the meeting agenda authorized City Clerk Robert Sloan to advertise for bids for “ambulance emergency response services,” including emergency dispatch.
The resolution passed by a 5-0 vote.
City Council President Sharon Nadrowski said she was directed by Mayor James Davis to investigate saving money on the contract, currently held by McCabe Ambulance, for approximately $600,000 per year.
“We’re putting it on [the agenda] now and getting it out today,” Nadrowski said. Since taking office in July, Davis’s administration had been looking for alternatives to cut the cost, sources said.
McCabe’s contract has another two years on it, but the company agreed to allow the bidding arrangement, city officials said.
The Jersey City Medical Center has offered to provide the service for free, and charge only for patient services rendered as a result of calls.
Currently, McCabe is paid approximately $600,000 per year by the city just to provide the service. That figure is in addition to money received from patients themselves through the calls.
Nadrowski said the city is seeking to have a new contract in place in January.
“The hope is that the winning bid is $0,” said Business Administrator Joseph DeMarco. If that is the case, the city could save $1.2 million over the next two years.
City officials had met with representatives of McCabe and CarePoint Health, McCabe backers, on the topic on at least two occasions, according to DeMarco. The contract has an “out clause,” a source said.
“The two players are keenly aware of this,” DeMarco said.
Following receipt and review of the bids, the council will be presented with a report confirming that all proper qualifications and licenses are in place, and a final determination will be made on awarding the contract.
The new pact will be for between three and five years, a source said.
McCabe has been operating in Bayonne since 1973. The company was the sole bidder on the contract approved in 2010. JCMC has run emergency medical services in Jersey City for more than 100 years.
CarePoint Health owns Bayonne Medical Center, Christ Hospital in Jersey City, and Hoboken University Medical Center.
Previously, JCMC and McCabe both sought the ambulance contract in Jersey City.
E-mail joepass@hudsonreporter.com.