Greenlee County approves sole-source purchase of ambulance from Red Sky Emergency Vehicles

The Greenlee County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the sole-source purchase of an ambulance from Red Sky Emergency Vehicles, authorizing county staff to spend up to $250,000 from the county's capital improvement fund.

Derek, a county staff member, told the board the county placed an order for an ambulance in fiscal year 2022-23 but that the unit has not arrived after nearly three years of delay. He said the county learned of a ready-made unit from Red Sky about three weeks before the meeting and arranged for the company's demo vehicle to be driven to the county for inspection.

The board heard that Donna Lizarraga, head of the ambulance crew at GHR, reviewed the Red Sky demo along with county health staff and other personnel and found it compatible with the county's needs. Derek said the demo vehicle matches the county's prior ambulances and that Red Sky could install a refrigerated box for medications; that option was quoted at $3,075. An alternative, a floor-mounted box, was quoted at $1,550.

Gary, a county staff member who discussed the numbers, said the earlier backordered unit had an original price in the roughly $250,000 range and rose by about $8,000 when the manufacturer later raised its price. He said the Red Sky unit's out-the-door price was estimated at approximately $246,468.40 with the refrigerated box included, and that the county had sufficient funds in its capital improvement account to make the purchase without additional appropriations.

During discussion, Derek reported that Red Sky's owner agreed to "put your name on it and essentially take it off the sales floor" if the county moved quickly. Derek said the company would hold the vehicle and that if the board acted, delivery could occur in about a month after final installation and inspection.

Supervisor Will moved to proceed with the purchase at a cost of $248,000; Derek seconded the motion and the board amended the motion to set the not-to-exceed amount at $250,000 to allow room for taxes and final graphics costs. Derek placed on the record the reason for proceeding as a sole-source purchase: the county had been unable to find any ready ambulances for nearly three years.

By vocal vote the board approved the motion. The county will keep the original backordered order in place while completing this purchase.

What the board decided: purchase the Red Sky ambulance as a sole-source vendor, authorizing county staff to spend up to $250,000 from the capital improvement fund, with delivery expected about one month after final work and inspection.