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Finance committee postpones naloxone contract award; grant acceptance to be handled by Gov Ops
Summary
The Bangor Finance Committee reviewed staff recommendations to award naloxone contracts for nasal and intramuscular formulations but postponed final action pending a separate grant accept/appropriate item on the Government Operations agenda.
Bangor, Maine — The Bangor City Finance Committee reviewed a staff recommendation to award contracts for naloxone kits but postponed formal approval until grant acceptance appears on the Government Operations agenda.
Interim Finance Director Stephanie Kimball told the committee the request covers naloxone in 4 mg and 3 mg nasal formulations and a 0.4 mg/1 ml intramuscular injection as part of the State of Maine’s naloxone distribution initiative. "The budget's $754,000," Kimball said during the committee discussion. She added bids came from eight vendors and staff had to select multiple vendors because no single vendor supplied every item requested.
City Manager Courtney O'Donnell said the separate resolve to accept and appropriate the grant funding is the first item on the Government Operations agenda, noting that grant acceptance is the step that will enable contract awards. "The resolve to accept and appropriate the grant funding for this is the first item on Gov Ops," O'Donnell said.
The committee heard brief procedural questions and did not record a final vote on the contract awards; a committee member moved to accept staff recommendation and another seconded, but members agreed to place the item on next week’s agenda for formal action.
Why it matters: The naloxone distribution initiative has been administered through Maine Department of Health and Human Services since February 2019; awarding these contracts will determine local suppliers and per-kit costs for a program funded by a grant appropriation.
Details: Staff reported per-kit prices of $24 for 4 mg nasal kits, $34 for 3 mg nasal kits and $19.05 for the 0.4 mg intramuscular kit. Committee members were told the distribution program has been supported by Maine DHHS grants since 02/2019. No formal vote was taken; the committee will consider the matter again at its next meeting.
Forward steps: The committee deferred final action to the next meeting after confirming the grant acceptance item will be heard by Government Operations. Recording of the formal contract award was not completed during the finance meeting.
